ASSESSMENT OF REDUCIBILITY OF ILEOCOLIC INTUSSUSCEPTION IN CHILDREN -USEFULNESS OF COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic usefulness of ultrasonography (US) i n intussusception in children and determine whether color Doppler sono graphy (CDS) can indicate bowel viability and help in prediction of re ducibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: US was used to examine 176 children in whom the presence of intussusception was clinically suspected. CDS was performed in 64 patients with 65 cases of intussusception proved with US. RESULTS: The positive US findings were confirmed with air ene ma; the negative findings, with air enema in 46 patients and clinical follow-up in 66 patients (100% specificity and sensitivity). CDS indic ated blood flow in 62 of 65 cases of intussusception; pneumatic reduct ion was achieved in 58 (94%) of these 62 cases. Four patients (6%) und erwent manual reduction of viable bowel; three patients (5%) who had n o color Doppler signal underwent segmental resection. The difference i n reduction rates based on blood flow was statistically significant (P = .0008). CONCLUSION: US is sensitive and specific in the diagnosis o f intussusception, and CDS is a promising predictor of bowel viability .