Rare Idiopathic Adult Intussusception: A Case Report

Abstract

Intussusception is highly uncommon in adults, with most cases caused by a pathological lead point that requires surgical resection. This case presentation highlights a rare example of idiopathic intussusception in a young male adult. Our patient is a 23-year-old African American male who presented at the Piedmont Macon Medical Center emergency department in February 2023 with acute-onset severe periumbilical pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Computed tomography (CT) imaging was inconclusive, and his diagnosis of an ileo-ileal intussusception in the distal ileum was made during an exploratory (diagnostic) laparoscopy. Based on a visual inspection of the bowel demonstrating no evidence of inflammation, adhesions, lesions, ischemia, or a pathological lead point, manual reduction without resection was indicated. While intussusception is rare in adults, it is an important clinical prognosis that should be carefully considered in the differential diagnosis.