Recurrent idiopathic intestinal invagination in an adult with chronic alcoholism

Abstract

Introduction: Most of the intestinal intussusceptions in adults have an organic cause and their treatment is surgical. In some cases, no lesion associated with the intussusceptions (idiopathic) is found and conservative management may be chosen. A causal relationship between chronic alcoholism and intussusception has not been described in the literature.

Objective: To describe a rare case of recurrent idiopathic intussusceptions in an alcoholic adult, suggesting a causal relationship between these entities.

Case Presentation: A 50-year-old male patient with a history of chronic alcoholism went to the hospital due to abdominal pain and vomiting. The clinical picture was interpreted as a peritoneal syndrome. In the CT scan of the abdomen and chest, the diagnosis of intestinal intussusceptions at the level of the jejunum and inflammatory lesions in both lungs is made. The patient presented symptoms of severe alcohol withdrawal, which was treated. At laparotomy, the diagnosis of jejuno-jejunal intussusception with no vascular compromise, and without cause of the intussusception was confirmed. It was disinvaginated without resection. On the third day after surgery, he died due to bronchial aspiration in a picture of alcohol withdrawal. The autopsy reported recurrent idiopathic intussusception of the jejunum without vascular compromise.

Conclusiones: A patient with a history of chronic alcoholism who presented a recurrent simple idiopathic small bowel intussusception without vascular involvement, or pre-stenotic dilatation and signs of aspiration pneumonia is presented. He received conservative treatment with surgical desinvagination without resection.