Intussusception Surgical Repair in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
This surgery is used if other methods are not able to fix an intussusception.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:
- Your child's surgery site comes apart.
Call your child's pediatrician or surgeon if:
- Your child has severe pain and a swollen abdomen.
- Your child is urinating less than usual or not urinating at all.
- Your child is weak or sleeps more than usual.
- Your child's bowel movement has blood in it or looks like red jelly.
- Your child has a fever.
- Your child's surgery area is red, swollen, or draining pus.
- Your child's symptoms return.
- Your child vomits 3 or more times in 24 hours.
- Your child is eating and drinking less than usual.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Medicines:
Your child may need any of the following:
- Antibiotics help prevent or fight an infection caused by bacteria.
- Prescription pain medicine may be given. Ask your child's healthcare provider how to give this medicine safely. Some prescription pain medicines contain acetaminophen. Do not give your child other medicines that contain acetaminophen without talking to a healthcare provider. Too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Prescription pain medicine may cause constipation. Ask your child's healthcare provider how to prevent or treat constipation.
- Do not give aspirin to children younger than 18 years. Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he or she has the flu or a fever and takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin or salicylates.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell the provider if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Nutrition:
Give your child a variety of healthy foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, and fish. Ask if your child needs to be on a special diet. Continue to breastfeed or bottle feed your infant.
Surgery area care:
- Keep the area covered so it stays clean and dry.
- When your child is allowed to bathe, carefully wash the area with soap and water. Check for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or pus. Pat the area dry gently.
- The medical tape will start to peel off on its own. Do not pull it off. If it does not come off in 10 days, you can gently peel it off.
Follow up with your child's pediatrician or surgeon in 1 to 2 weeks:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Further information
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