INTUSSUSCEPTION IN ADULTS

1. 1. Ten cases of intussusception have been seen at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital during the period 1913 to 1968. 2. 2. Six of the patients had a chronic history of vague abdominal pain; only four cases presented as acute abdominal emergency conditions. 3. 3. In eight of the cases an underlying cause for intussusception was found; the various causes were duodenal carcinoma, three submucous lipomas of the small bowel (two cases were previously reported from this institution by Botsford and Newton [6]), an invaginated Meckel's diverticulum, and two carcinomas of the rectosigmoid. Table I Intussusception in Adults (1913-1968) {A table is presented} 4. 4. Eight of the ten patients required bowel resection. 5. 5. Eight cases experienced an uncomplicated postoperative course with no subsequent difficulties; one patient died one year postoperatively from metastatic renal cell carcinoma and one patient with severe cardiac disease died on the fifth hospital day with no surgery having been undertaken. © 1969.