← Back to guidelines
Pediatrics50 papers

Short segment Hirschsprung's disease

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Short segment Hirschsprung's disease involves aganglionosis limited to a portion of the colon, typically sparing the rectum, leading to functional obstruction and symptoms related to bowel obstruction. 5

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Abdominal distension, constipation, and vomiting in neonates or toddlers. 7
  • Rectal Biopsy: Essential for diagnosis; absence of ganglion cells confirms Hirschsprung's disease. 5
  • Manometry: Useful to identify the transition zone between aganglionic and normally innervated bowel. 5
  • Imaging: Contrast enema may show a "transition zone" and "cecum funnel" sign. 5
  • Genetic Testing: Considered in syndromic cases like Mowat-Wilson syndrome or L1CAM gene abnormalities. 68
  • Management

  • Surgical Intervention: Primary treatment is typically a limited or segmental colectomy with end-to-end anastomosis. 5
  • Postoperative Care: Close monitoring for complications such as enterocolitis, which is more common in neonates. 5
  • Medical Management: Preoperative bowel decompression and supportive care (e.g., hydration, nutrition) are crucial. 5
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Neonates and infants are the primary population, with careful postoperative management essential. 57
  • Comorbidities: Patients with associated syndromes (e.g., Mowat-Wilson, L1CAM abnormalities) require multidisciplinary care. 68
  • Key Recommendations

  • Perform rectal biopsy for definitive diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. (Evidence: Strong 5)
  • Consider genetic testing in patients with syndromic presentations to guide comprehensive management. (Evidence: Moderate 68)
  • Prioritize surgical intervention with segmental resection for short segment Hirschsprung's disease, ensuring appropriate postoperative monitoring for complications. (Evidence: Moderate 5)
  • References

    1 Tan QC, Wang D, Yang Z, Zhao XL, Zhang Y, Yan YB et al.. Implant Preservation versus Implant Replacement in Revision Surgery for Adjacent Segment Disease After Thoracolumbar Instrumentation: A Retrospective Study of 43 Patients. World neurosurgery 2021. link 2 Bae IS, Bak KH, Chun HJ. Interspinous Process Fixation Device Versus Extended Pedicle Screw Fixation for Symptomatic Adjacent Segment Disease: 3-Year Retrospective Study. World neurosurgery 2020. link 3 Wu TK, Liu H, Ning N, Hong Y, Deng MD, Wang BY et al.. Cervical disc arthroplasty for the treatment of adjacent segment disease: A systematic review of clinical evidence. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery 2017. link 4 Arayici S, Topcu V, Simsek GK, Kutman GK, Oguz SS, Dilmen U. Case report: partial trisomy 4q27q35 syndrome. Genetic counseling (Geneva, Switzerland) 2014. link 5 Friedmacher F, Puri P. Classification and diagnostic criteria of variants of Hirschsprung's disease. Pediatric surgery international 2013. link 6 Bonnard A, Zeidan S, Degas V, Viala J, Baumann C, Berrebi D et al.. Outcomes of Hirschsprung's disease associated with Mowat-Wilson syndrome. Journal of pediatric surgery 2009. link 7 Keckler SJ, St Peter SD, Spilde TL, Tsao K, Ostlie DJ, Holcomb GW et al.. Current significance of meconium plug syndrome. Journal of pediatric surgery 2008. link 8 Nakakimura S, Sasaki F, Okada T, Arisue A, Cho K, Yoshino M et al.. Hirschsprung's disease, acrocallosal syndrome, and congenital hydrocephalus: report of 2 patients and literature review. Journal of pediatric surgery 2008. link 9 Ou-Yang MC, Yang SN, Hsu YM, Ou-Yang MH, Haung HC, Lee SY et al.. Concomitant existence of total bowel aganglionosis and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in a neonate with PHOX2B gene mutation. Journal of pediatric surgery 2007. link 10 Davenport M, Taitz LS, Dickson JA. The Kaufman-McKusick syndrome: another association. Journal of pediatric surgery 1989. link80118-6) 11 Minutillo C, Pemberton PJ, Goldblatt J. Hirschsprung's disease and Ondine's curse: further evidence for a distinct syndrome. Clinical genetics 1989. link 12 Hamada Y, Bishop AE, Federici G, Rivosecchi M, Talbot IC, Polak JM. Increased neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive innervation of aganglionic bowel in Hirschsprung's disease. Virchows Archiv. A, Pathological anatomy and histopathology 1987. link 13 Yazbeck S, O'Regan S. Hirschsprung's disease and urinary tract infection: unrecognized association. Nephron 1986. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
    2. [2]
    3. [3]
      Cervical disc arthroplasty for the treatment of adjacent segment disease: A systematic review of clinical evidence.Wu TK, Liu H, Ning N, Hong Y, Deng MD, Wang BY et al. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery (2017)
    4. [4]
      Case report: partial trisomy 4q27q35 syndrome.Arayici S, Topcu V, Simsek GK, Kutman GK, Oguz SS, Dilmen U Genetic counseling (Geneva, Switzerland) (2014)
    5. [5]
      Classification and diagnostic criteria of variants of Hirschsprung's disease.Friedmacher F, Puri P Pediatric surgery international (2013)
    6. [6]
      Outcomes of Hirschsprung's disease associated with Mowat-Wilson syndrome.Bonnard A, Zeidan S, Degas V, Viala J, Baumann C, Berrebi D et al. Journal of pediatric surgery (2009)
    7. [7]
      Current significance of meconium plug syndrome.Keckler SJ, St Peter SD, Spilde TL, Tsao K, Ostlie DJ, Holcomb GW et al. Journal of pediatric surgery (2008)
    8. [8]
      Hirschsprung's disease, acrocallosal syndrome, and congenital hydrocephalus: report of 2 patients and literature review.Nakakimura S, Sasaki F, Okada T, Arisue A, Cho K, Yoshino M et al. Journal of pediatric surgery (2008)
    9. [9]
      Concomitant existence of total bowel aganglionosis and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in a neonate with PHOX2B gene mutation.Ou-Yang MC, Yang SN, Hsu YM, Ou-Yang MH, Haung HC, Lee SY et al. Journal of pediatric surgery (2007)
    10. [10]
      The Kaufman-McKusick syndrome: another association.Davenport M, Taitz LS, Dickson JA Journal of pediatric surgery (1989)
    11. [11]
      Hirschsprung's disease and Ondine's curse: further evidence for a distinct syndrome.Minutillo C, Pemberton PJ, Goldblatt J Clinical genetics (1989)
    12. [12]
      Increased neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive innervation of aganglionic bowel in Hirschsprung's disease.Hamada Y, Bishop AE, Federici G, Rivosecchi M, Talbot IC, Polak JM Virchows Archiv. A, Pathological anatomy and histopathology (1987)
    13. [13]

    HemoChat

    by SPINAI

    Evidence-based clinical decision support powered by SNOMED-CT, Neo4j GraphRAG, and NASS/AO/NICE guidelines.

    ⚕ For clinical reference only. Not a substitute for professional judgment.

    © 2026 HemoChat. All rights reserved.
    Research·Pricing·Privacy & Terms·Refund·SNOMED-CT · NASS · AO Spine · NICE · GraphRAG