Study objective: There are no controlled studies available to support or oppose the use of sedation in children undergoing pneumatic reduction of intussusception under fluoroscopy (PRIUF). We examined the influence of sedation on the success rate of PRIUF, rate of early (within 48 hours) intussusception-recurrence (EIR), and rate of bowel perforation during the procedure (BPDP).
Methods: A two-center retrospective cohort study was conducted. A similar protocol for PRIUF is used in both centers; however, PRIUF is routinely performed using sedation in one center, while the procedure is performed without sedation in the other. Files of patients who had ileocolic intussusception between 01/01/2007 and 31/07/2014 were analyzed.
Results: The cohort consisted of 124 patients in the sedation group and 90 patients in the non- sedation group. Study groups were comparable with regard to demographic characteristics, hemodynamic and laboratory parameters, time variables prior to PRIUF, and the years of experience of the physicians who performed the procedure. The proportion of children who had successful PRIUF in the sedation group and in the non-sedation group was 117/124 (94.3%) and 79/90 (87.7%), respectively (difference 6.6%; 95% CI -1.0% to 15.5%). The proportion of children who had EIR in both groups was 6/117 (5.1%) and 1/79 (1.2%), respectively (difference 3.8%; 95% CI -2.1% to 9.7%). The number of patients who had BPDP in both groups was 3 (2.4%) and none (0%), respectively.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that sedation is not associated with a lower success rate of PRIUF, but may be associated a higher rate of EIR and a higher rate of BPDP.
