Therapy of Hirschsprung’s disease | Hirschsprung’s disease

Therapy of Hirschsprung’s disease

Treatment of Hirschsprung’s disease cannot be conservative, but must be carried out surgically. In the beginning, an artificial bowel outlet is created surgically (anus praeter), so that the bowel can be emptied. The artificial bowel outlet is created in front of the site affected by the disease.

This allows the disease to be bridged for a certain period of time, so that the child’s state of health can stabilize again and can be operated on in a better condition. In a second surgical step, the diseased intestinal segment is then removed (resection) and the remaining intestinal segments are connected to the still short part of the rectum. The operation does not take place in a large open abdominal surgery, but usually the operation can be performed via the anus (transanal).

In some cases, a minimally invasive procedure (laparascopic) must be used. In many cases, the creation of an artificial bowel outlet can be avoided at the beginning and the affected bowel segment can be removed directly. After the operation, regular defecation must be ensured.

The frequency of defecation and consistency of the stool should return to normal within a few weeks to months after the operation. About 90% of children are inconspicuous after the operation. The main problem after an operation due to Hirschsprung’s disease is a persistent tendency to constipation and flatulence.

It is therefore important to pay attention to the following things in your diet: Avoid constipating foods: chocolate, cocoa drinks, banana, white bread, white rice, too many sweets. Avoid bloating foods: peas, beans, other legumes, too fatty food, sufficient fluid intake. The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends the following drinking quantities for healthy persons: Infants 400-600ml per day 1 – 4 years 820ml per day 4 – 7 years 940 ml per day 7 – 10 years 970 ml per day 10 – 13 years 1170ml per day 13 – 15 years 1330ml per day 15 – 19 years 1530ml per day Adults 1410 ml per day

  • Avoid stuffing foods: chocolate, cocoa drinks, banana, white bread, white rice, too many sweets.
  • Avoid flatulent foods: peas, beans, other legumes, too fatty food
  • Sufficient fluid intake. The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends the following drinking quantities for healthy persons:

Read next article in this series:

All articles in this series:

  1. Hirschsprung’s disease
  2. Symptoms
  3. Therapy of Hirschsprung’s disease
  4. Complications
  5. Inheritance in Hirschsprung’s disease
  6. What is the life expectancy with Hirschsprung’s disease?