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Accuracy of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of intussusception in infants in Vietnam

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Abstract

Background

Intussusception (IS) is the most common cause of acute bowel obstruction in infants and young children. Ultrasonography is being increasingly used as the primary investigation for the diagnosis of IS and to guide air or hydrostatic enema reduction. However the accuracy of ultrasonography outside tertiary care settings in developed countries has not been assessed, particularly in Asia where the incidence of IS based on sonographic diagnosis has been reported as the highest in the world.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute IS in infants less than 2 years of age in a paediatric hospital in Vietnam.

Materials and methods

A prospective study was conducted at the National Hospital for Paediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam, over a 14-month period recruiting patients <2 years of age with IS. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed on each patient and the accuracy of the diagnosis was evaluated against the final diagnosis provided by air enema and/or surgery.

Results

A total of 640 infants <2 years of age presented with clinical symptoms and signs of IS. The diagnosis was confirmed in 533 patients via air enema or surgery. Abdominal ultrasonography was 97.5% (466/478) sensitive and 99% (106/107) specific in the detection of IS.

Conclusion

Ultrasonography is an accurate, safe and valuable clinical tool in the diagnosis of IS. The use of ultrasonography as a primary investigation for patients with suspected IS prevents unnecessary radiological or surgical procedures being performed, and reduces radiation exposure while maintaining a high level of diagnostic accuracy. These results validate the use of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of IS in a developing country setting.

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Acknowledgements

This project was made possible by a grant from the World Health Organization. We thank the infants and their families for their participation in this study. We would also like to acknowledge the staff from the Imaging, Surgical and Emergency Departments at the National Hospital of Paediatrics, Hanoi, for conducting this study and the staff of the Royal Children’s Hospital International (RCHI) for their assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Frances A. Justice & Julie E. Bines

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia

    Julie E. Bines

  3. Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Julie E. Bines

  4. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia

    Margaret de Campo

  5. Department of Surgery, National Hospital of Paediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Nguyen Thanh Liem & Tran Ngoc Son

  6. Department of Imaging, National Hospital of Paediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Tran Phan Ninh

Authors
  1. Frances A. Justice
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  2. Margaret de Campo
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  3. Nguyen Thanh Liem
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  4. Tran Ngoc Son
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  5. Tran Phan Ninh
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  6. Julie E. Bines
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie E. Bines.

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Justice, F.A., de Campo, M., Liem, N.T. et al. Accuracy of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of intussusception in infants in Vietnam. Pediatr Radiol 37, 195–199 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-006-0381-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-006-0381-1

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