Hirschsprung's disease Pediatric Surgery 7th ed Elsevier U.S.A Hirschsprung's disease * Harald Hirschsprung was a pathologist at Queen Louise Children’s Hospital in Copenhagen * He described two cases of children who died of intestinal obstruction called “congenital megacolon ” Etiology and Genetics • Ganglion cells are derived from the neural crests • In infants with Hirschsprung disease the process of ganglion cell migration is disturbed, so the ganglion cells are absent in the distal bowel. CLINICAL PRESENTATION • • • • Neonatal Intestinal Obstruction Chronic Constipation Enterocolitis others RADIOLOGIC EVALUATION The pathognomonic finding of Hirschsprung disease on contrast enema is a transition zone between the normal and aganglionic bowel ANORECTAL MANOMETRY • The recto-anal inhibitory reflex (RAIR ) is defined as reflex relaxation of the internal anal sphincter in response to rectal distension and is present in normal child ren but absent in children with Hirschsprung disease. RECTAL BIOPSY • The definitive finding that defines Hirschsprung disease is absence of ganglion cells in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses SURGICAL PROCEDURES • • • • • SWENSON PROCEDURE DUHAMEL PROCEDURE SOAVE PROCEDURE LAPAROSCOPIC PULL-THROUGH TRANSANAL (PERINEAL) PULLTHROUGH • Colostomy COMPLICATIONS • • • • Enterocolitis Soiling Fecal incontinence Infection Thank You