Intussusception in the elderly

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Jan 24:2013:bcr2012006185. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006185.

Abstract

We present the case of an 82-year-old Caucasian lady with a 16-day history of colicky lower abdominal pain and reduced appetite. When presenting to hospital she was haemodynamically stable with no fever. Examination revealed a soft but tender abdomen with normal bowel sounds. No masses or hernias were present. Per-rectal examination revealed an empty rectum. Investigations showed raised inflammatory markers, white cell count 11.9 and C reactive protein 24, in addition to which she had dilated loops of small and large bowel on the abdominal radiograph. The patient underwent an emergency laparotomy where a mass in the descending colon was found to be intussuscepting into the proximal sigmoid colon for which a Hartmanns procedure was performed. Histopathology confirmed a Dukes B T3 N0 Mx adenocarcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Adenocarcinoma / complications
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colonic Neoplasms / complications
  • Colonic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intussusception / complications
  • Intussusception / diagnosis*
  • Intussusception / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed