Multiple Intestinal Intussusceptions as a Complication of Severe Hyperglycemia in a Patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Abstract EN

Intussusception in adults is a rare phenomenon, occurring in approximately 1 in 30,000 hospital admissions annually.

When it does occur, the majority of cases involve an organic lesion serving as a lead point for intussusception, such as tumors or postoperative adhesions.

In a small percentage of cases, a lead point is not found, and intussusception is thought to be idiopathic or secondary to a disease process contributing to dysrhythmic peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.

A few cases of functional intussusception have been reported as being secondary to severe hyperglycemia and metabolic derangements, including metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia, by causing impaired gastrointestinal motility.

We present a case of a 23-year-old Caucasian male who presented with severe hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis.

Imaging of the abdomen revealed three intussusceptions involving the small intestine, which were easily reduced manually during exploratory laparotomy.