BOWEL INTUSSUSCEPTION IN ADULTS: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Intestinal intussusception in adults is a rare condition that is difficult to diagnose due to the nonspecificity of its signs and symptoms, which are often confused with other causes of obstructive acute abdomen. This study presents a case report of an adult patient diagnosed by computed tomography, a test that proved crucial for both the suspicion and treatment planning. Unlike in pediatric patients, intussusception in adults is usually associated with structural lesions, either benign or malignant, with lipomas being an uncommon cause, but described in the literature. Surgical management, via laparoscopic colectomy, proved effective and safe, promoting complete resolution of the obstructive condition and satisfactory patient recovery. This reinforces the idea that segmental resection remains the standard approach in most cases, especially when a tumor is suspected. The narrative literature review, based on articles published between 2016 and 2025 in the Scielo, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, allowed us to contextualize different dimensions of the disease, addressing clinical, epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects. Recent studies highlight laparoscopy as an advantageous approach due to lower pain rates, shorter hospital stays, and better postoperative functional recovery. The integration of the case report with the literature review offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of intestinal intussusception in adults, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis, adequate etiological investigation, and choosing the most appropriate surgical approach to optimize prognosis.