We performed a prospective study to explore a diagnosis and treatment protocol of transient
intussusception in children (
TIC). Totally, 143 children with
intussusception who met the inclusion criteria were firstly divided into
intussusception involving only the small bowel and
intussusception involving the colon group. And in each group, they were further divided into short-segment (≤ 3.0 cm) and long-segment (> 3.0 cm) groups according to the length of
intussusception. After a period of
conservative treatment, the incidence of
TIC, the incidence of surgery, and recurrence were collected and analyzed. Finally, we found that the incidence of
TIC in the short-segment group of small bowel
intussusception (96.29%) was significantly higher than that in other groups (P ≤ 0.001). Besides, the incidence of surgery and recurrence in this group was relatively low too. Therefore, we summarized the inclusion criteria and treatments to the short-segment group of small bowel
intussusception as the suggested protocol to
TIC.Conclusion: For cases of small bowel
intussusception with no identified pathologic lead point, a short duration of symptoms, a length of ≤ 3.0 cm, a relatively abundant vascular flow signal, and a stable general condition, the spontaneous reduction could be expected and a period of
conservative treatment with careful monitoring is recommended. What is Known: • The phenomenon of spontaneous reduction in
intussusception (transient
intussusception) among pediatric patients has been widely reported. • To distinguish the transient
intussusception from the other types is important for the transient ones only need
conservative treatment rather than
enema reduction or surgery. What is New: • This is the first prospective study to explore a diagnosis and treatment protocol of transient
intussusception in children. • Short-segment small bowel
intussusceptions have a higher rate (96.29%) to get spontaneous reduction than the other types of
intussusception.