treatment
Last reviewed 01/2018
The treatment of this condition is surgical and involves the excision of the aganglionic segment and subsequent anastomosis to the anal canal if possible. The initial treatment in the neonatal period is by colostomy to relieve obstruction and prevent enterocolitis.
A definitive operation is then performed at between six to nine months of age. A variety of resection and anastomosis procedures are used - see menu - but all be combined with the taking of frozen sections for histological analysis. Postoperative complications such as constipation, incontinence and diarrhoea occur in 6-12% of patients.