Abstract
Fifty adult patients with Hirschsprung's disease were operated on at the Mayo Clinic between 1950 and 1978. Six different operations were used. Of the three patients treated by the Soave endorectal pull-through procedure, two suffered anastomotic leaks and required diverting colostomies; all three had excellent long-term results, however. All four patients who underwent the Duhamel procedure had excellent results, with only one minor complication. Of the 17 patients undergoing the Swenson procedure, 6 had major postoperative complications, including 2 with impotence; 3 (17.6 per cent) patients were considered treatment failures. Among the 13 patients who underwent rectal myectomy, there was one minor complication, although 5 (38.5 per cent) had unsatisfactory results. Six patients had anterior resection, one of whom died of generalized peritonitis from an anastomotic leak, and one patient suffered recurrent megacolon that required resection of an additional segment of colon. Four of the five survivors had excellent results. Of the seven patients who underwent left hemicolectomy or total abdominal colectomy, two had serious postoperative complications, and two required resection of an additional segment of colon because of recurrent symptoms. All seven patients eventually had excellent results.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fairgrieve J Hirschsprung's disease in the adult. Br J Surg 1963; 50:506–14.
Robertson HE, Kernohan JW. The myenteric plexus in congenital megacolon. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin 1938;13:123–5.
Swenson O, Bill AH Jr. Resection of rectum and rectosigmoid with preservation of the sphincter for benign spastic lesions producing megacolon: an experimental study. Surgery 1948;24:212–20.
Duhamel B A new operation for the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease. Arch Dis Child 1960;35:38–9.
Soave F. Hirschsprung's disease: a new surgical technique. Arch Dis Child 1964;39:116–24.
Lynn HB. Rectal myectomy for aganglionic megacolon. Mayo Clin Proc 1966;41:289–95.
Soper RT, Miller FE. Congenital aganglionic megacolon (Hirschsprung's disease): diagnosis, management, and complications. Arch Surg 1968;96:554–61.
Boley SJ. An endorectal pull-through operation with primary asastomosis for Hirschsprung's disease. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1968;127:353–7.
Swenson O. Pediatric Surgery. 2nd ed. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962.
Lynn HB, van Heerden JA Rectal myectomy in Hirschsprung disease: a decade of experience. Arch Surg 1975;110:991–3.
SanFilippo JA, Allen JE, Jewett TC. Definitive surgical management of Hirschsprung's disease. Arch Surg 1972;105:245–7.
Swenson O, Sherman JO, Fisher JH Diagnosis of congenital megacolon: an analysis of 501 patients. J Pediatr Surg 1973;8:587–93.
McGarity WC, Cody JE Complications of Hirschsprung's disease in the adult. Am J Gastroenterol 1974;61:390–3.
Todd IP. Adult Hirschsprung's disease. Br J Surg 1977;64:311–2.
Metzger PP, Alvear DT, Arnold GC, Stoner RR. Hirschsprung's disease in adults: report of a case and review of the literature. Dis Colon Rectum 1978;21:113–7.
Swenson O, Sherman JO, Fisher JH, Cohen E. The treatment and postoperative complications of congenital megacolon: a 25 year followup. Ann Surg 1975;182:266–72.
Lee YK, Koh YB. Anorectal excisional myomectomy for distal short segment Hirschsprung's disease. Am J Proctol October 1977;28:52–8.
State D. Segmental colon resection in the treatment of congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung's disease). Am J Surg 1963;105:93–8.
Lockhart-Mummery HE. Hirschsprung's disease in the adult. Acta Chir Belg 1967;66 Suppl 2:39–46.
Whitehouse F, Bargen JA, Dixon CF. Congenital megacolon: favorable end results of treatment by resection. Gastroenterology 1943;1:922–37.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
McCready, R.A., Beart, R.W. Adult Hirschsprung's disease: Results of surgical treatment at mayo clinic. Dis Colon Rectum 23, 401–407 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02586788
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02586788