Intussusception

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• A segment of bowel telescopes into another segment, often ileocolic in infants/toddlers.
• Bowel obstruction impairs venous return and can progress to ischemia, perforation, and shock.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

• Assess intermittent severe abdominal pain, drawing legs up, vomiting, lethargy, abdominal mass, and stool changes.
• Keep NPO, monitor hydration/perfusion, and prepare diagnostic/therapeutic enema or surgery pathway as ordered.
• Escalate signs of peritonitis, shock, or perforation.

Complications

• Bowel ischemia
• Perforation
• Peritonitis
• Shock

NCLEX cues

• Currant jelly stool is late.
• Episodic crying with knees to chest.
• Lethargy can be a major clue.

Memory hooks

• Intussusception telescopes bowel.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Ultrasound
• Air/contrast enema
• Abdominal assessment
• Hydration/electrolytes

Review notes

• Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.