Rasromani (1990) conducted a retrospective study including 79 cases with intussusception who were admitted to one medical center during the years 1980-1986. The annual incidence of intussusception in Bahrain was estimated to be 1.09:1000 live births. About 85% of the cases were less than one year, whereas 15% were between one and five years. Male to female ratio was 2:1. The relative frequencies of the main symptoms were: vomiting 97%, pain 93%, rectal bleeding 57%, and loose motions 27%. Palpable abdominal mass was noticed in 89% of the cases and it was mostly on the right side. Plain abdominal X-ray revealed early signs of abdominal obstruction in 32% of the patients. Barium enema reduction was performed in 72 patients and only 36% had the complete reduction of intussusception. Laparotomy was done in 53 patients and intestinal resection was performed in three patients for gangrenous bowel. The cause of intussusception in one patient was Meckle's diverticulum with ectopic pancreas. Enlarged lymph nodes were seen in many patients and one child had intestinal polyp. There was no mortality; however recurrence of intussusception occurred in one case two weeks after barium reduction.

[Rasromani K. Intussusception: seven years experience in Bahrain. J Bahrain Med Soc. 1990; 2(3): 123-5.]

[See: Qatar > Ismail, 1997].

[See: Qatar > Ismail, 1997].

Dawod and Osundwa (1992) conducted a retrospective study including 67 patients under 2 years of age with intussusception diagnosed and treated between 1984 and 1989. There were 48 boys and 19 girls ranging in age from 2 months to 2 years with a mean of 7.4 months. Presenting symptoms and signs included abdominal pain (96%), vomiting (93%), rectal bleeding (60%) and a palpable mass (67%). Symptoms and signs were present for less than 24 hours in about 80% of cases. Most of the intussusceptions were of the ileocolic type (75%). The overall success rate of hydrostatic barium enema reduction was 49%. The highest rate of reduction by enema was among patients between 9 and 16 months of age (83%). The success rate of barium enema reduction was negligible after 24 hours of cardinal symptoms. Five children underwent surgical exploration without contrast studies because of delayed presentation and signs of an acute abdomen. A pathological lead point was found in only four cases, the commonest being Meckel's diverticulum. The average length of hospitalization was 2.57 days after barium enema reduction and 7.55 days after surgical reduction. There were no deaths. There was no case of perforation during enema reduction. Three children had recurrence within 3 months of initial presentation.

Ismail (1997) studied intussusception in Qatar in 54 children managed between 1998 and 1993. The subject group included 18 Qataris, four Palestinians, four Egyptians, three Yemenis, one Sudanese, and one Emirati. Most of the patients had gastroenteritis prior to the presentation. The most common presenting feature in these patients was colics and vomiting (seen in all patients) and mid current jelly stools. Other less common features included diarrhea, constipation, and distension. Barium enema, and in the event of its failure, operative reduction, was performed in the patients. Barium enema was successful in 24 patients, whereas operative reduction was required in 28. Ismail (1997) stated that since the data was collected from the only hospital in Qatar with a pediatric surgical service, the figures reflected the total experience of intussusception in the entire country. [Ismail A. Intussusception in Qatar: five years experience. Saudi Med J. 1997; 18(5):502-3.]

[See: Qatar > Ismail, 1997].

[See: Qatar > Ismail, 1997].

[See: Qatar > Ismail, 1997].