Hirschsprug's Disease

What is Hirschsprung's Disease?

The Hirschsprung Disease is an inborn disease in which a segment of the colon lacks nerve cells (ganglia). Such cells tend to be in contact with the motions of the muscles to drive stool beyond the intestines. Their absence will leave the affected area narrow leading to obstruction that will lead to failure to evacuate the bowel normally.

Common Symptoms

The symptoms are often expressed soon after the birth but also can be observed in children or adults:

• Infants that failed to pass meconium within 48 hours of birth
• Swollen or distended belly
• Green in color vomiting
• There is long-term constipation and gastric retention
• Hard and ribbon shaped dry stools
• Generalized exhaustion or sub-optimal gain of weight

Causes

The Hirschsprung Disease is a consequence of the failure of the nerve cells to develop properly in the colon. Key factors include:

• Gene mutations, which disrupt the formation of the ganglion cells
• Upper digestive familial history of Hirschsprung or otherwise
• Impaired gut nerve? Harram and Squevedo (2002) opine that the fetus death sequence (pp or ms) could be attributed to an abnormality in nerve? signaling in the gut.

Treatment Options for Hirschsprung's Disease in Houston

The treatment is comprised of long-term care and surgery:

• Pull-through surgery: In GastroDoxs, it is the procedure that involves the separation of the insensible part of the colon to reconnect normal faecal evacuation.
• Temporary colostomy: In other cases we conduct temporary colostomy whereby we create a temporary colostomy in order to save the healing before the end repair.
• Bowel training: Person-specific activities and procedures are used to encourage regular bowel movements following surgery.
• Nutritional modification: Dietary treatment using large amounts of fiber and fluids helps in the digestive system and recovery.
• Prectal softeners: Polyethylene glycol is a type of drug utilized in the treatment of constipation and easy evacuation of stools.
• Long term follow-up: Long term check-ups in our clinic that is located in Houston are applied in the presence of growth, nutrition and bowel functionality in a long-term and a continuous well being.