Abstract
A case of total small bowel and colon aganglionosis is presented and 11 previous cases are briefly reviewed. The relatively long survival of our patient in an excellent condition provided the possibility of studying the behaviour of the aganglionic small bowel, disclosing that in the absence of propulsion, absorption is uninvolved and enteral feeding is possible. Aganglionosis of the ileum does not imply absence of muscle activity (leading to misleading bowel sounds and visible peristalsis on X-ray studies), and often the affected small bowel is dilated. In cases of Hirschsprung's disease with small bowel involvement we recommend as routine a full thickness biopsy of the jejunum, to ensure early diagnosis of the fatal disease of total intestinal aganglionosis.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Zeitschrift fur Kinderchirurgie : organ der Deutschen, der Schweizerischen und der Osterreichischen Gesellschaft fur Kinderchirurgie = Surgery in infancy and childhood
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
