What Is Intussusception and What Causes It?

A member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Yale Popowich, MD, MBA, served as the founding partner of Portland Plastic Surgery Group in Oregon for 14 years. Possessing upwards of two decades of medical experience, Dr. Yale Popowich has been involved in writing several abstracts and manuscripts, including a section on intussusception in volume six of Operative Techniques in General Surgery.

A serious condition, intussusception occurs when part of the intestine telescopes into another part of the intestine. This means the intestine slides into an adjacent part, and the process often blocks fluid or food from passing through the intestine properly. Further, the affected part of the intestine may not receive the amount of blood it needs to survive without tearing.

In children under the age of 3, intussusception is the leading cause of intestinal obstruction. However, there are also cases of the issue in adults. Among both children and adults, the specific cause of intussusception is unknown. When the condition develops in children, it has been linked to cystic fibrosis and dehydration, upper respiratory tract infections, and intestinal viruses, such as gastroenteritis.

Further, intussusception in adults and children has been linked to masses or tumors in the abdominal cavity or intestines. Children who have recently finished chemotherapy also seem to have a higher risk of developing the condition, as do boys in general. In fact, boys are about three to four times more likely to develop intussusception than girls.