PRENATAL AND NEONATAL INTUSSUSCEPTION

Intussusception found in the Ist month of life is rare and usually dis cussed as one entity, neonatal intussusception, but in fact, includes the intussusceptions occurring both prenatally and neonatally, of whic h the clinical presentations and results are different. Four full-term babies with prenatal intussusception presenting as intestinal atresia (IA) and three premature babies with neonatal intussusception mimicki ng necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are presented. Prenatal intussuscep tion, as one of the causes of IA produces prominent signs of intestina l obstruction immediately after birth. Preoperative evaluation usually fails to yield a definitive diagnosis, but surgery is usually perform ed in time and is successful. In neonatal intussusception, full-term i nfants usually have a pathological lead point and the colon is almost always involved. A barium enema is thus useful in diagnosis. Premature babies, on the other hand, rarely have a colonic component, and the c linical features are insidious and similar to NEC. This results in dia gnostic confusion that may lead to a dangerous delay in appropriate su rgical correction. A high level of suspicion about this condition in c ases diagnosed presumptively with NEC is important. Serial abdominal s onograms may be helpful in the early diagnosis of neonatal intussuscep tion.