DISTAL ILEOCOLIC INTUSSUSCEPTION - ANOTHER CAUSE OF INVERSION OF SUPERIOR MESENTERIC VESSELS IN INFANTS

OBJECTIVE. Inversion of the superior mesenteric vessels is associated with various conditions. The purpose of this study was to prospectivel y evaluate the position of these vessels in infants with idiopathic il eocolic intussusception.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Abdominal sonography was performed before and after reduction of ileocolic intussusception in 16 infants. RESULTS. In 14 infants with ileocolic intussusception prox imal to the splenic flexure, the relationship of the superior mesenter ic vessels was normal (superior mesenteric vein to the right ventral s ide of superior mesenteric artery). Inversion of the superior mesenter ic vessels (superior mesenteric vein to the left of the superior mesen teric artery) was found in two patients with distal ileocolic intussus ception (head of the intussusceptum at the sigmoid colon or rectum). A fter reduction, the relationship of these vessels was normal in all 16 infants. CONCLUSION. Inversion of the superior mesenteric vessels is sometimes caused by distal ileocolic intussusception in infants.