An ileo–ileal idiopathic adult intussusception: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges from the emergency department: a case report

Although intussusception occurs in children in 95% of cases, it is important to consider intussusception in adults as a life-threatening condition. In our case, the adult, Caucasian, male patient presented to the emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Imaging confirmed a serious condition: in this case, an abdominal computerized tomography scan verified small bowel dilatation with the characteristic target sign and kidney sign (bowel loops within the lumen of another bowel loop), which radiomorphologically confirms ileo-ileal intussusception. Surgical therapy was indicated. Thanks to the prompt and timely intervention of the emergency department physician as well as timely radiological diagnostics, the potentially threatening condition presented by our patient was quickly diagnosed, and the patient was successfully treated.