intussusception /in′təsəsep″shən/ [L, intus, within, suscipere, to receive] , prolapse of one segment of bowel into the lumen of another segment. This kind of intestinal obstruction may involve segments of the small intestine, the colon, or the terminal ileum and cecum. Intussusception occurs most often in infants and small children and is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, and presence of bloody mucus in the stool (currant jelly stool). Barium enema is used to confirm the diagnosis, and surgery is usually necessary to correct the obstruction. See also intestinal obstruction.
