HomeAnswersPediatricshirschsprung's diseaseOne of my kids has Hirschsprung's disease. Can we cure this without surgery?

What is another treatment option available for Hirschsprung's disease other than surgery?

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Published At September 14, 2022
Reviewed AtDecember 28, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

One of my kids got Hirschsprung's disease. Can we cure this without surgery? Because the child is just 3 to 4 months old. Kindly help.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

If your kid is diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease, surgery is the only option for a cure. However, the age at which surgery is done depends on how well your child is. Surgery can be done a bit later if your kid is well without any major constipation problems. Constipation can be managed with a bowel washout program for a brief period, like weeks. If there are problems in managing constipation, surgery should be done. A pediatric surgeon should best decide this.

Surgery can be done in two ways;

1. Laparoscopic surgery (keyhole).

2. Open surgery.

Surgeons will discuss with you which one is suitable for your kid.

The definitive operation to correct Hirschsprung's disease is pull-through surgery. The surgeon will identify the part of the bowel missing the ganglion cells using a series of biopsies and remove it. Once they have removed the affected portion of the bowel, they will attach the end to the anus to create a working bowel with enough nerve cells to control the muscles so your child can pass feces as usual. Usually, this surgery is safe and has no long-term complications if done by an experienced pediatric surgeon. Small problems during the period immediately after surgery may occur, which include bleeding, bowel leak into the abdominal cavity, and infection. This could be managed in a tertiary hospital with an experienced surgeon.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

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Dr. Manigandan Chandrasekaran

Pediatrics

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