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What is Intussusception Reduction?

Intussusception reduction is a procedure to correct intussusception, a condition where one part of the intestine telescopes into an adjacent segment, often causing obstruction, pain, and potential bowel damage. It’s most common in children under 2 years but can occur in adults. In India, intussusception reduction is managed in pediatric surgery or radiology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for caregivers.

Why do you need Intussusception Reduction?

Intussusception reduction is indicated for:

  • Intussusception:
    • Most common in children aged 6 months to 2 years (1–4 per 1,000 children); rare in adults.
    • Symptoms: Sudden abdominal pain (crying spells in infants), vomiting, “currant jelly” stool (blood/mucus), or palpable mass.
    • Common site: Ileocolic (ileum into colon, 80–90% of cases).
  • Cause:
    • Children: Often idiopathic; may follow viral infection (e.g., rotavirus) or a “lead point” (e.g., Meckel’s diverticulum, 5–10%).
    • Adults: Usually due to a lead point (e.g., tumor, polyp).
  • Timing:
    • Urgent: Within 24–48 hours of symptom onset to prevent bowel necrosis (risk increases after 48 hours).

The procedure aims to reduce the telescoped intestine, restore normal bowel function, and prevent complications like perforation or ischemia, typically using non-surgical methods first.

Why Do Intussusception Reduction Costs Vary in India?

Costs range from ₹30,000 to ₹1.5 lakh :

  • Procedure Type: Air enema (₹30,000–₹50,000); surgical reduction (₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh, higher if resection needed).
  • Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹50,000–₹1.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹10,000–₹40,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
  • Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced pediatric surgeons/radiologists charge more.
  • Additional Costs: Sedation/anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), ultrasound (₹2,000–₹5,000), medications (₹2,000–₹10,000).
  • Insurance: Covered for medical necessity; confirm with your provider.

Intussusception Reduction Procedure

  • Before Surgery Evaluation:
    • Diagnosis:
      • Ultrasound: Gold standard; shows “target sign” (telescoped bowel).
      • X-ray: May show air-fluid levels or obstruction; confirms diagnosis.
      • Blood tests: Monitors electrolytes, infection markers (e.g., CRP).
    • Stabilization: IV fluids for hydration; nasogastric tube (NGT) to decompress stomach; antibiotics if perforation suspected.
    • Consent: Risks, including perforation, are explained.
  • Reduction Techniques:
    • Non-Surgical Reduction (Preferred, 80–90% Success in Children):
      • Performed under sedation or light anesthesia, lasting 15–30 minutes.
      • Types:
        • Air enema (pneumatic reduction): Most common; air pumped into rectum via catheter under fluoroscopy to push bowel back (pressure 80–120 mmHg).
        • Hydrostatic enema: Saline or contrast (e.g., barium) used instead of air; less common.
      • Success: Confirmed by free flow of air/contrast into small bowel and symptom relief.
      • Contraindications: Peritonitis, perforation, or prolonged symptoms (>48 hours).
    • Surgical Reduction (if Non-Surgical Fails or Contraindicated):
      • Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–2 hours.
      • Approach:
        • Open surgery: Laparotomy (abdominal incision, 5–8 cm); bowel manually reduced; lead point (if present) addressed.
        • Laparoscopic: Minimally invasive; used in stable patients at advanced centers.
      • Bowel resection: If necrotic (5–10%), damaged segment removed, and ends reconnected.
    • Intraoperative Tools:
      • Fluoroscopy (non-surgical): Guides air/saline enema.
      • Laparoscope (if laparoscopic): Visualizes bowel.
      • Sutures: For bowel resection or closure.
  • After Procedure:
    • Hospital stay: 1–3 days (non-surgical); 5–7 days (surgical).
    • Care: IV fluids until oral intake resumes; monitor for bowel function (stool passage).
    • Pain management: Mild pain (non-surgical) or moderate (surgical) for 2–5 days; managed with acetaminophen or IV analgesics.
    • Instructions: Gradual return to normal diet; watch for recurrence.

Recovery After Intussusception Reduction

  1. Hospital Stay: 1–3 days (non-surgical); 5–7 days (surgical).
  2. Post-Procedure Care:
    • Pain: Mild (non-surgical) or moderate (surgical) for 2–5 days; resolves in 1 week.
    • Diet: Clear liquids within 12–24 hours (non-surgical) or 2–3 days (surgical); normal diet in 3–5 days.
    • Activity: Normal play in 2–3 days (non-surgical) or 1–2 weeks (surgical); avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks (surgical).
    • Bowel function: Stool passage expected within 1–2 days; monitor for recurrence.
  3. Follow-Up:
    • Visit at 1 week to check recovery.
    • Ultrasound (if needed): At 1 month if recurrence suspected or lead point concern.

Most resume normal activities in 2–3 days (non-surgical) or 1–2 weeks (surgical); full recovery takes 1–2 weeks (non-surgical) or 4–6 weeks (surgical). Success rate: 80–90% for non-surgical reduction in children; recurrence rate 5–10% (usually within 72 hours).

Risks and Complications

  • Non-Surgical Reduction Risks:
    • Perforation (1–2%): During air enema; requires emergency surgery.
    • Recurrence (5–10%): Most within 72 hours; may need repeat reduction or surgery.
    • Failed reduction (10–20%): Needs surgical intervention.
  • Surgical Reduction Risks:
    • Infection (3–5%): At incision site or intra-abdominal; treated with antibiotics.
    • Bleeding (1–3%): Intra-abdominal; may need transfusion.
    • Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to general anesthesia; rare in healthy children.
  • Post-Procedure:
    • Adhesions (2–5%, surgical): Scar tissue causing obstruction; may need surgery.
    • Bowel resection complications (1–3%): Leak at anastomosis; needs reoperation.
    • Recurrence (1–3%, surgical): Rare after surgery unless lead point unaddressed.
  • Long-Term:
    • Lead point (5–10%, esp. adults): If missed (e.g., polyp, tumor), may cause recurrence; needs further evaluation.

Report fever, severe pain, vomiting, or recurrence of symptoms (e.g., crying spells) promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What causes intussusception?

Children: Often idiopathic, possibly post-viral; lead point in 5–10% (e.g., Meckel’s diverticulum). Adults: Usually a lead point (e.g., tumor).

Can I avoid intussusception reduction?

No, reduction is necessary to prevent bowel necrosis/perforation; untreated cases can be fatal.

Is intussusception reduction painful?

Mild pain (non-surgical) or moderate (surgical) for 2–5 days, managed with medication; children recover quickly.

How soon can my child resume normal activities?

Non-surgical: 2–3 days; surgical: 1–2 weeks; full recovery: 1–2 weeks (non-surgical) or 4–6 weeks (surgical).

Is intussusception reduction covered by insurance in India?

Yes, for medical necessity; confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.

Signs of complications?

Fever, severe pain, vomiting, or recurrence of symptoms.

Will my child have a normal recovery?

80–90% recover fully after non-surgical reduction; surgical cases recover well but take longer; recurrence risk 5–10%.

Lifestyle changes post-procedure?

Monitor for recurrence, resume normal diet gradually, avoid strenuous activity (surgical), and attend follow-ups.

Conclusion

Intussusception reduction is a safe and effective procedure to correct a potentially serious bowel obstruction, with high success rates using non-surgical methods in children. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance or subsidized. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps caregivers approach treatment confidently. Consult a pediatric surgeon or radiologist for personalized guidance.

Looking for Best Hospitals for Intussusception Reduction

Note: we are not promoting any hospitals

we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)

  • click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
City Minimum Price (₹) Maximum Price (₹)
Agra
50,000
1,80,000
Ahmedabad
80,000
2,50,000
Ajmer
50,000
1,80,000
Aligarh
50,000
1,80,000
Allahabad
50,000
1,80,000
Amritsar
60,000
2,00,000
Aurangabad
60,000
2,00,000
Bangalore
80,000
2,50,000
Bareilly
50,000
1,80,000
Belgaum
60,000
2,00,000
Bhopal
60,000
2,00,000
Bhubaneswar
60,000
2,00,000
Bikaner
50,000
1,80,000
Chandigarh
80,000
2,50,000
Chennai
80,000
2,50,000
Coimbatore
80,000
2,50,000
Dehradun
60,000
2,00,000
Delhi
80,000
2,50,000
Dhanbad
50,000
1,80,000
Durgapur
50,000
1,80,000
Faridabad
80,000
2,50,000
Ghaziabad
80,000
2,50,000
Gorakhpur
50,000
1,80,000
Guntur
60,000
2,00,000
Gurgaon
80,000
2,50,000
Guwahati
60,000
2,00,000
Gwalior
50,000
1,80,000
Hyderabad
80,000
2,50,000
Indore
60,000
2,00,000
Jabalpur
50,000
1,80,000
Jaipur
80,000
2,50,000
Jalandhar
60,000
2,00,000
Jamshedpur
60,000
2,00,000
Jodhpur
50,000
1,80,000
Kanpur
50,000
1,80,000
Kochi
80,000
2,50,000
Kolkata
80,000
2,50,000
Kollam
60,000
2,00,000
Lucknow
60,000
2,00,000
Ludhiana
80,000
2,50,000
Madurai
60,000
2,00,000
Mangalore
60,000
2,00,000
Meerut
50,000
1,80,000
Moradabad
50,000
1,80,000
Mumbai
80,000
2,50,000
Mysore
80,000
2,50,000
Nagpur
60,000
2,00,000
Nashik
60,000
2,00,000
Navi Mumbai
80,000
2,50,000
Noida
80,000
2,50,000
Patna
50,000
1,80,000
Pune
80,000
2,50,000
Raipur
60,000
2,00,000
Rajkot
60,000
2,00,000
Ranchi
50,000
1,80,000
Surat
80,000
2,50,000
Thane
80,000
2,50,000
Vadodara
60,000
2,00,000
Varanasi
50,000
1,80,000
Visakhapatnam
60,000
2,00,000

Disclaimer

This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.

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