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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Surgical Case Reports

Postoperative Idiopathic Intussusception in an Adult: A Case Report

  • Tomokazu Nakagami1
  • Jyoji Yoshizawa1
  • Shinya Kawano1
  • Shohei Honda1
  • Hiroki Yashita1
  • Akihide Sugiyama2
  • Yu Watarai3
  1. 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Showa Medical University Koto-Toyosu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
  2. 2Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Medical Center, Showa Medical University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
  3. 3Department of Pediatric Surgery, Showa Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative idiopathic intussusception occurring at a site unrelated to the surgical field is extremely rare in adults. We report a case in which the condition was diagnosed early, thereby avoiding resection of the intussuscepted bowel.

CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 56-year-old woman with severe motor and intellectual disabilities who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 11 months of age. She underwent sigmoidopexy for recurrent sigmoid volvulus, but she developed symptoms of intestinal obstruction on POD 2. Abdominal CT revealed findings consistent with intussusception. On POD 3, a 2nd laparotomy revealed an ileocolic intussusception, and manual reduction was performed without resection of the intussuscepted bowel; a sigmoid colectomy was also performed concomitantly. Eight days after the 2nd surgery, adhesive bowel obstruction developed, and a 3rd laparotomy with adhesiolysis was performed the following day. Thereafter, her postoperative course was uneventful, and she was transferred back to her previous facility.

CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative idiopathic intussusception is a well-recognized postoperative condition in children, but it is extremely rare in adults, with only 10 reported cases to date, including the present case. CT is useful for diagnosis. When a target sign or a bowel-within-bowel appearance suggestive of intussusception is observed, early reduction should be considered.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{nakagami2026postoperative,
  title = {{Postoperative Idiopathic Intussusception in an Adult: A Case Report}},
  author = {Tomokazu Nakagami and Jyoji Yoshizawa and Shinya Kawano and Shohei Honda and Hiroki Yashita and Akihide Sugiyama and Yu Watarai},
  journal = {Surgical Case Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.70352/scrj.cr.26-0549},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.70352/scrj.cr.26-0549},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Postoperative Idiopathic Intussusception in an Adult: A Case Report
AU  - Tomokazu Nakagami
AU  - Jyoji Yoshizawa
AU  - Shinya Kawano
AU  - Shohei Honda
AU  - Hiroki Yashita
AU  - Akihide Sugiyama
AU  - Yu Watarai
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
JO  - Surgical Case Reports
DO  - 10.70352/scrj.cr.26-0549
UR  - https://doi.org/10.70352/scrj.cr.26-0549
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Postoperative idiopathic intussusception occurring at a site unrelated to the surgical field is extremely rare in adults. We report a case in which the condition was diagnosed early, thereby avoiding resection of the intussuscepted bowel.  CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 56-year-old woman with severe motor and intellectual disabilities who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 11 months of age. She underwent sigmoidopexy for recurrent sigmoid volvulus, but she developed symptoms of intestinal obstruction on POD 2. Abdominal CT revealed findings consistent with intussusception. On POD 3, a 2nd laparotomy revealed an ileocolic intussusception, and manual reduction was performed without resection of the intussuscepted bowel; a sigmoid colectomy was also performed concomitantly. Eight days after the 2nd surgery, adhesive bowel obstruction developed, and a 3rd laparotomy with adhesiolysis was performed the following day. Thereafter, her postoperative course was uneventful, and she was transferred back to her previous facility.  CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative idiopathic intussusception is a well-recognized postoperative condition in children, but it is extremely rare in adults, with only 10 reported cases to date, including the present case. CT is useful for diagnosis. When a target sign or a bowel-within-bowel appearance suggestive of intussusception is observed, early reduction should be considered.
SN  - 2198-7793
ER  -