Korean J Pediatr.  2004 Aug;47(8):851-854.

The Diagnostic Value of Gross Bloody Stool on Intussusception

• Nam KA
• Lee SH
• Son SH
• Jung SJ
• Seo SS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the diagnostic value of gross bloody stools as a predictor of intussusception.
METHODS
We reviewed 159 cases retrospectively that had an ultrasound examination for diagnosis of intussusception from January 2001 to December 2003 at Ilsin Christian Hospital. We compared each symptom and assessed the diagnostic value of gross bloody stools in the patients with suspected intussusception.
RESULTS
Thirty-six of the 159 patients had intussusception. Of 36 patients with intussusception, 19 (52.8%) children were male and 28(77.8%) children were younger than two years. The most common symptom was intermittent abdominal pain or irritability. But its frequency among the intussusception (24.2%) was lower than frequency of gross bloody stools(50.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) of gross bloody stools in patients with suspected intussusception were as follows; sensitivity=77.8%(95% CI 60.8-89.9), specificity=78.0%(95% CI 69.7-85.0), PPV=50.9%(95% CI 37.1-64.6), NPV=92.3%(95% CI 85.4-96.6)(Diagnostic accuracy 78.0 %; 95% CI 70.7-84.2).
CONCLUSION
It is useful for diagnosis of intussusception to confirm the presence of gross blood in stools.

Keyword

Intussusception; Gross bloody stool

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Child
Diagnosis
Humans
Intussusception*
Male
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ultrasonography