Can one die from Intussusception? - Dr. Nagaraj B. Puttaswamy

Intussusception is where the proximal part of the intestine gets into the distal part of the intestine. Why would the intestine get into the distal part? If there is a preexisting disorder or condition that will dry up the proximal intestine into the distal part intestine is otherwise a flexible tube which is rubberish, which is elastic and can be distended. Once the proximal part of the intestine gets into the distal part of the intestine it becomes edematous, or swollen. The swollen intestine is an uncomfortablscenario.it will not allow even a drop of water from the proximal side to the distal side. The patient develops severe pain abdomen and vomiting. So the proximal part starts to swell because there is some amount of food o fluid content. During this process if this is not attended properly, then the vascularity or the blood supply of the intestine tries to get hampered over a period of time, say if we do no manage it within the first 24 hours, then the hampering of the blood supply becomes so severe that it becomes gangrenous. If you do not admit or try to understand or diagnose and treat the patient, this gangrene is a fulminant condition in the abdominal cavity and if is not managed, then the patient will and in a position where there is multiorgan failure to the heart or kidney or respiratory problems, and finally the patient has to die. This is the seriousness of the condition it amounts upto. So if it is diagnosed and treated in proper time, there is no chance the patient has to die. But if it is unattended, then the patient can die.