Bedside Intussusception Diagnosis and Reduction: A Comprehensive Emergency Department Process for Bedside Intussusception Diagnosis and Reduction.

Objectives: Ileocolic intussusception is a major cause of intestinal obstruction in children under 2 years of age. Diagnosis is typically confirmed using ultrasonography, and treatment often involves an air or hydrostatic enema performed by radiologists or surgeons outside of the pediatric emergency department (PED) without the provision of adequate sedation or analgesia. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a comprehensive bedside approach for the diagnosis and reduction of ileocolic intussusception within the PED of a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted between January 2021 and July 2024. Key outcome variables included the reduction success rate, time to reduction, and adverse events. Results: During the study period, 28 children diagnosed with ileocolic intussusception via point-of-care ultrasound were treated bedside with ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction performed by a pediatric radiologist under sedation provided by pediatric emergency medicine physicians. There were 20 (86%) successful bedside reductions with an average time from admission to reduction of 126 minutes and an average length of stay of 407 minutes, respectively. No adverse events were recorded, although early recurrence of intussusception within 48 hours occurred in 2 patients (7%). Conclusion: This is the first study that detailed a comprehensive bedside approach for the diagnosis and reduction of ileocolic intussusception in the PED. This approach has a high success rate, minimizes the need for interdepartmental transfers, and facilitates the administration of appropriate sedation and analgesia without significant adverse events. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of this bedside approach.