Background: Intussusception is the one of the most common acute abdomen in children. Ultrasound is being increasing used as the primary investigation for the diagnosis of intussusception and to guide air reduction. However , the accuracy of bedside ultrasound in pediatric emergency medicine has not been assessed.
Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of bedside ultrasound in the diagnosis of intussusception in children by pediatric emergency physicians.
Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted at our hospital over a 18-month period recruiting children with intussusception .
Results: A total of 133 children admitted under the impression of intussusception via emergency department . Thirty five children transferred from other hospital with proofs of insussusception by ultrasound were prescribed directly with air enema. Other 28 children were performed ultrasonography by the gastrointestinal specialist. The other 70 children were divided into two groups: those with air reduction after the bedside ultrasound by trained pediatric emergency physicians and those with air reduction based on the clinical symptoms and plain film without bedside ultrasound examination. The sensitivity of the bedside ultrasound group confirmed by air enema was 100%(40/40). The sensitivity of the clinical and plain film diagnosis group confirmed by air reduction was 73.3%(22/30). There is statistic significantly difference between those two groups (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Ultrasound is an accurate tool in the diagnosis of intussusception. The use of bedside ultrasound as a primary investigation in emergency department for children suspected intussusception may prevent unnecessary radiological procedure or admission.