• Yana Puckett, Jose Greenspon, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Dennis Vane, Samiksha Bansal, Mandy Rice, and Kaveer Chatoorgoon.
• Department of Pediatric Surgery, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1465 South Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA. pucketty@slu.edu.
• Pediatr. Surg. Int. 2016 Aug 1; 32 (8): 805-9.

PurposeThe standard practice in pediatric patients diagnosed with intussusception has been reduction via enema and admission for a period of nil per os and observation. Little data exists to support this practice. The objective of this study was to examine whether post-reduction admission to hospital is required.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed on all patients aged 0-18 years old with intussusception over a span of 20 years. Study included children treated for intussusception on first encounter with enema and subsequently admitted for observation. Study excluded those readmitted for recurrence after 48 h, patients whose intussusception did not reduce on first try, those lost to follow-up, and those who went to the operating room. Early recurrence was defined as recurrence within 48 h post-reduction.ResultsOut of 171 patients admitted, only one experienced an early recurrence (0.6 %). Median length of stay for all patients was 2 days. Average cost incurred per day for intussusception admission was $404.ConclusionIntussusception in a child that is successfully reduced via enema has a low recurrence rate and is usually followed by prompt resolution of symptoms. An abbreviated period of observation in the emergency department post-reduction may result in healthcare savings.

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