Intussusception occurs when one part of the bowel telescopes into another part of the bowel [figure 2].  

Figure 2: An intussusception occurs when one part of the bowel telescopes into another 

 

While intussusception can happen at any location along the bowel, ileocolic intussusception is the most common type of intussusception occurring in children requiring timely intervention to resolve and the focus of this module. This occurs where the ileum and cecum connect [figure 3].  

Figure 3: Ileocolic intussusception is the most common intussusception in children and is the focus of this module. It occurs when the terminal ileum of the small bowel telescopes into the colon. 

 

To look for an ileocolic intussusception the exam begins in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen and follows the course of the large bowel.