STOOL APPEARANCE IN INTUSSUSCEPTION - ASSESSING THE VALUE OF THE TERMCURRANT JELLY

This study surveyed the stool appearance descriptions of 107 inpatient children with intussusception. Fifty six patients presented with gros sly bloody stools (passed spontaneously), 10 of which were determined on chart review to resemble currant jelly. Of the 51 patients without grossly bloody spontaneously passed stools, 35 patients had rectal exa mination results charted. Eight of these children had grossly bloody s tools noted on rectal examination, 4 of which were determined on chart review to resemble currant jelly. While most of the grossly bloody st ools were not consistent with pure currant jelly, the most common term s used in describing the grossly bloody stools were ''bloody,'' ''mucu s,'' ''red,'' and ''diarrhea.'' Since stools truly resembling currant jelly account for a minority of the grossly bloody stools in intussusc eption, the term ''currant jelly stools'' should be assessed in the te aching of intussusception. Generic terms such as blood, mucus, burgund y, red, etc, are more objective and sensitive at identifying cases of intussusception. Junior physicians who are taught the classic presenta tion of intussusception with currant jelly stool should also be taught that intussusception should be considered in the differential diagnos is of children passing any type of bloody stool. As a result, physicia ns with limited experience will be more likely to appropriately consid er the diagnosis of intussusception, permitting a more timely diagnosi s and a better outcome. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.