Intussusception in older children.

In a retrospective series of 37 cases of intussusception in children over 2 years of age, it was found that a subacute or chronic presentation was more common than in infancy, that few of them had rectal bleeding, and only a minority had a palpable intussusception. Diagnosis was often difficult but was helped by plain abdominal x-rays. Although the majority of children underwent surgery, with a 22% incidence of lead points, it is concluded that attempted hydrostatic reduction in these older children is not contraindicated, provided x-rays do not show small bowel obstruction.