Intussusception in adults.

A review of 25 adult patients with intussusception is reported. Intussusception in adults constituted 16.6% of 150 intussusception cases observed during 1956-1985. The underlying pathologic processes were identified in 23 patients (92%). Etiologically, adult intussusception could be categorized into four groups: (1) tumor-related (13 cases, 52%); (2) postoperative (nine cases, 36%); (3) miscellaneous--Meckel diverticulum (one case, 4%); and (4) idiopathic (two cases, 8%). The tumor-related intussusceptions were caused by benign tumors in five and malignant tumors in eight patients. Postoperative intussusceptions were related to various factors including suture lines, ostomy closure sites, adhesions, long intestinal tubes, bypassed intestinal segments, submucosal edema, abnormal bowel motility, electrolyte imbalance, and chronic dilatation of the bowel. The sites of involvement of intussusception were jejunogastric (one), jejunojejunal (seven), ileoileal (four), ileocolic (10), and colocolic (three patients). Four patients had synchronous multiple (ileoileal and jejunojejunal), four had compound (ileoilealcolic), and two had recurrent intussusceptions. When an intussusception is encountered in adults, an underlying pathologic process usually can and should be determined for proper management.