Open Proctocolectomy for Hirschsprung’s Disease
Mudassir Shah Akhter, MD¹; Marcus Lester R. Suntay, MD, FPCS, FPSPS, FPALES^2
1Oregon Health and Science University
²Philippine Children’s Medical Center

Hirschsprung’s disease is the main genetic cause of functional intestinal obstruction. Most cases are diagnosed in the first few months of life given classical presentation and ease of testing with rectal suction biopsy. The disease is due to the absence of enteric ganglion cells in the distal colon that results in functional constipation. Resection of the affected segment and bringing the normal bowel close to the anus has been the mainstay of treatment. Due to advances in surgical treatment over the past decades, a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality has been observed, and the previously multistage procedure can now be completed in one stage, as presented here.