12th May 2024

A 2-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department with a 12-hour history of intermittent, severe abdominal pain causing him to cry and draw his legs up towards his stomach.

A 2-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department with a 12-hour history of intermittent, severe abdominal pain causing him to cry and draw his legs up towards his stomach. His parents also report episodes of vomiting and a single episode of passing red, jelly-like stool. On examination, the child appears lethargic and a sausage-shaped mass is palpable in the right side of his abdomen.

Which underlying mechanism is most likely responsible for his clinical presentation?