ABSTRACT

Invagination is the second most common acute abdomen pathology after appendicitis. It is defined as telescopic insertion of terminal ileum to colon after cecum and colon. In our study, 20 cases treated because of invagination between February 2000 and May 2007 were analyzed. Age, gender, complaints, admission time, diagnostic and surgical methods administered, postoperative complications and types of invagination were evaluated in the patients. Of all the patients, 15 were male and 5 were female. Age distribution of the patients was between 2 to 97 months. Major complaints were abdominal pain, bilious vomiting and rectal bleeding. A palpable abdominal mass was detected on physical examination in 7 cases (35%). Twelve patients (60%) were treated by barium enema under fluoroscopy whereas 8 (40%) were treated with surgery. Among the 8 patients operated, Meckel's diverticulum was detected as the cause of invagination in only one patient (12.5%). Ileus developed in 2 patients treated surgically because of intraabdominal adhesions complicating in the long-term. No morbidity or mortality was noted in any of the patients. While invagination is a disease that can be treated by minimally invasive methods when diagnosed early, complications such as intestinal resection or sepsis may develop in cases diagnosed late. Full success in treatment can be achieved by early diagnosis and fulltime availability of radiologic support.