Does Delayed Diagnosis of Hirschsprung Disease Impact Post-operative and Functional Outcomes? A Multi-Center Review From the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium
The Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium conducted a multi-center retrospective review from 2017 to 2023 examining the relationship between delayed diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease and postoperative/functional outcomes.
clinicalAlex Halpern0:12 ↗
The study included 679 patients with Hirschsprung disease from 14 different sites.
epidemiologicalAlex Halpern0:23 ↗
Increased age at diagnosis was associated with a greater likelihood of undergoing fecal diversion after initial pull-through procedure.
clinicalAlex Halpern0:29 ↗
Increased age at diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of constipation or incontinence requiring intervention postoperatively.
clinicalAlex Halpern0:39 ↗
No association was found between age at diagnosis and 30-day complication rate after initial pull-through.
clinicalAlex Halpern0:49 ↗
No association was found between age at diagnosis and need for pull-through revision.
clinicalAlex Halpern0:49 ↗
Delayed diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease affects certain postoperative and functional outcomes in patients.
clinicalAlex Halpern0:58 ↗
The Colorectal Quiz Episode 8: Motility Disorders Part 1
Failure of medical management is defined as appropriate treatment with no appropriate response
clinicalKahleb Graham2:51 ↗
Patients who cannot take treatment (e.g., kids with autism or other cognitive problems) are considered to have failed medical management
clinicalKahleb Graham3:04 ↗
Patients with persistent symptoms or pain with treatment, or failure to grow, are considered to have failed medical management
clinicalKahleb Graham3:04 ↗
Failure of retrograde enemas is considered failure of medical management
clinicalKahleb Graham3:21 ↗
Reliance on rectal therapy or retrograde enemas with continued soiling causing significant effect on functioning is considered failure of medical management
clinicalAnil Darbari3:35 ↗
General pediatricians typically prescribe osmotic laxatives (MiraLax, lactulose) and stimulant laxatives (Senna, bisacodyl), but there are other medications GI specialists use that pediatricians are not accustomed to prescribing
clinicalAnil Darbari3:57 ↗
Some children stool every day but don't completely evacuate
clinicalAnil Darbari4:58 ↗
Initial evaluation includes history (triggers, stooling frequency, sensation of complete emptying), physical exam (abdominal distension, palpable stool, rectal exam), and diagnostic imaging (abdominal X-ray, water-soluble contrast enema)
clinicalAnil Darbari4:46 ↗
In patients with long-standing constipation where appropriate treatments have been tried and failed, the first step is diagnostic studies including contrast enema to assess colonic dilation, redundancy, and ensure normal ratio
clinicalKahleb Graham5:27 ↗
Water-soluble contrast (not barium) is used for contrast enemas because it helps empty the colon and acts as a cleanout for patients starting new medical therapy
clinicalJason Frischer8:06 ↗
Contrast studies are not great predictors of how patients will respond to medical or surgical management; normal-looking colons may not respond while abnormal-appearing colons may respond well
clinicalJason Frischer7:12 ↗
The rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) is the response where the internal anal sphincter relaxes when the rectum becomes distended with stool
Host summaryRod summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position9:11 ↗
Anorectal manometry uses a catheter with sensors measuring pressure and a balloon to assess anal sphincter function and its relationship to the rectum
clinicalAnil Darbari9:35 ↗
High pressures on anorectal manometry may suggest underlying inability to relax, causing a functional obstruction
clinicalAnil Darbari10:00 ↗
Patients with Hirschsprung disease have an absent rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR)
clinicalAnil Darbari10:09 ↗
Anorectal manometry provides information about defecation dynamics by having patients bear down, squeeze, and attempt to defecate, comparing sensation to defecate with internal anal sphincter response
clinicalAnil Darbari10:19 ↗
Doctor Levitt states he doesn't know how he survived without anorectal manometry testing
opinionMarc Levitt10:47 ↗
In the past, surgeons did not understand the major role the sphincter played in many patients
opinionJason Frischer10:51 ↗
Colonic motility assessment is critical because in the past, colons or sigmoid colons were resected based on appearance, but patients had motility disorders and did not need resection
clinicalMarc Levitt7:36 ↗
Many dilated colons will respond to treatment
clinicalMarc Levitt7:54 ↗
Anorectal manometry is critical for determining whether a patient needs surgery or resection, as patients with motility disorders do not need surgery
Host summaryRod summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position12:03 ↗
Colorectal Quiz Episode 16: Bowel Management in Spinal Patients - Need for a Urologist Part 2
When a 7 cm appendix is shared between urology and colorectal surgery, the urologist typically takes 6.25 cm leaving only 0.75 cm for colorectal use
clinicalJason Frischer1:17 ↗
Urologists typically take a 70/30 split when sharing the appendix
opinionMarc Levitt1:38 ↗