Question

Pediatric nursing NCLEX

Intussusception in pediatric population

1. What is pathophysiology of intussusception? What are the difference between lleo-colic vs jejuno-ileal?

2. How can blood vessels become trapped between layers and decrease in blood flow? What would this cause in children?

3. What would current jelly-like stools cause?

4. What is air-contrast enema?

5. What are the nursing management? What are the assessments of symptoms? Why nutrition is important and how can this be arranged in these children? What are the parental education?

6. What are the cause of intussusception in children?

Answer 1

Answer: Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children age between 1-3 years. It is a serious condition in which part of the intestine gets into an adjacent part of the intestine which leads to cuts off the blood supply to the part of the intestine that's affected, which can lead to a tear in the bowel (perforation), infection and death of bowel tissue. The symptoms include a lump in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting etc.The diagnosis can be done by an ultrasound, X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan etc. Neonates with jejunoileal atresia usually present late during day 1 or on day 2 with increasing abdominal distention, failure to pass stools, emesis, and feeding problems.

The pressure of the pooling blood can make a short tear for long time and blood trapped between the layers can form a blood clot as it is caused when the inner layers of the artery separate from the outer layers, blood can pool in the area between the layers.

When the intussuscepted bowel segment stop contraction then current jelly-like stools or bleeding occurs which is mixed with mucus. Air-contrast enema or a solution containing contrast material such as iodine or barium is instilled into the large intestine through a small, soft tube placed in the rectum which is used to treat intussusception