EARLY EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW METHOD FOR TR EATING INTUSSUSCEPTIONS - SONOGRAPHICALLY CONTROLLED HYDROSTATIC REDUCTION

During the last four months we have been treating all 15 sonographical ly diagnosed intussusceptions by a new method; this is based on the in troduction of a saline enema under sonographic control. In 13 cases th e method was successful according to imaging and clinical criteria. In two patients conservative reduction was impossible: in one patient pa rtial resection of the ileum was necessary and in the other there was a recurrence which was reduced at operation. There were no complicatio ns. The advantages of the method are reduced radiation exposure, compl ete evaluation of the course of the procedure with definite criteria f or success, the ability to recognise an ileo-ileal invagination and to determine the head of the intussusceptum. We can see no disadvantages compared with conventional methods. We regard this method as optimal in future for the treatment of infantile intussusceptions.