Double intussusception in an adult following a laparotomy for trauma: a case report and review of the literature.

Intussusception is an unusual occurrence in adults. Postoperative intussusception may represent a separate pathophysiologic entity from primary intussusception in adults, occurring more frequently in the small bowel and without a specific underlying cause. Surgical resection is not mandatory and in those patients with viable bowel in whom the intussusception can successfully be reduced, manual reduction alone is an appropriate surgical strategy. Intussusception after laparotomy for trauma is a recently recognized phenomenon. For as yet unexplained reasons there seems to be a high association with liver injuries. A case of double intussusception is presented after a penetrating injury to the liver with discussion of the possible etiology and pathophysiology of this entity.