Compound colonic intussusception: a reason for failure of pneumatic reduction

Intussusception is the most common cause of bowel obstruction in infants older than 3 months. The authors report a case of idiopathic compound (ileocolic/colocolic) intussusception in a 5-month-old girl that was resistant to nonsurgical pneumatic (enema) reduction and necessitated open surgery. Compound intussusception is extremely rare but represents a form of intussusception that is likely to be aggravated by attempts at pneumatic reduction with obvious dangers for the unwary. The literature is reviewed, and the terminology was discussed.