All issues > Volume 21(4); 1978

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1978;21(4):261-271. Published online April 30, 1978.

A Clinical Study of 416 Cases of Intestinal Obstruction in Infancy and Children.

J W Suh, B K Cheun, J S Oh, C M Kang

¹Department of Pediatrics, Presbyterian Hospiatl, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

We have observed 416 cases of intestinal obstruction under the age of 15 years which were admitted to the department of pediatrics of Presbyterian Hospital, Daegu Korea during the period of 10 years from July 1966 to June 1976. The clinical and statistical review was made and the following results were obtained. 1) The common causes of intestinal obstruction were intussusception (53.1%), intestinal obstruction due to congenital anomalies (20.7%), intestinal obstruction due to adhesion (8.4%) and obsturctive ileus (8.2%), Those were more than 90% of all cases. 2) 268 cases (64.4%) were observed under the age of 1year and 291 cases (70%) occured in male and 125 cases (30%) in female with the ratio of 2.3:1. 3) Seasonal distribution showed that the peak incidence was in winter and spring time in which the upper respiratory infections were prevalent. 4) The cardinal symptoms and signs in order of frequency were vomiting (81%), abdominal distension (71.6%), abdominal pain (59.4%) and bloody stool (47.1%). 5) In 55.3% of cases, the leukocytosis (over 10,000/mm3) were observed. 6) Positive findings of plane abdominal X-ray were in 288 cases(72.4%). 7) Large number of the cases(39.2%) was admitted within 24 hours after the onset of initial symptoms and 120 cases (28.8%) had delayed admission over 72 hours. 8) The cases of mechanical obstruction were treated surgically except 178 cases of intussusception. 221 cases of intussusceptions were reducted with hydrostatic barium enema and successed in 178 cases (80.5%). 9) Over all mortality rate was 5.8% (24 out of 416 cases). The main causes of death were peritonitis (25%), electrolyte imbalance (16.7%) and sepsis (16.7%). The high mortality rate was seen in intestinal obstruction due to congenital origin (41.7% of total deaths).

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