1. Total Colonic Hirschsprung Disease
Tyler Bergstrom

2. Hirschsprung Disease
Functional obstruction related to failure of a segment of bowel to relax secondary to abscense of parasympathetic myenteric and submucosal nerve cells in a segment of bowel
1:5,000 live births
Total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) – extends from anus to >ileocecal valve up to 50 cm proximal
TCA - ~1:50k; 5-7% HD cases
M:F ratio = 4:1, 2:1 in long seg, and 1.1:1 in TCA
TCA – overall mortality ~ 50%
Danish pediatrician – first described in detail in 1888, aganglionic findings not evident until 1900s (dis 1st described in1800)
Asians, males (4:1, 2:1 in long seg, and 1.1:1 in TCA), usually have failure of passage of meconium within 48 hrs
-- classic explosive, foul-smelling stools assoc with fever and abd distension = HD entercolitis
-pts need irrigation, Abx, and fluids
-longer segments – need emergent ex lap with colostomy prox to aganglionic bowel

3. Pathogenesis
Aberrant colonization of ganglion cells in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses
Decreased pool of neuroblasts, abnormal migration of neuroblasts, germline mutations, alteration in local tissue environment
Results in lack of peristaltic wave propagation
TCA separate disease from short segment HD or a longer form?
-Neural crest cells migrate prox to distal -- possibly failure to migrate, failure to develop in successful migration
-Other factors may contribute to TCA – malnorishment, errors in apoptosis, errors in cell differentiation – unclear if

4. Genetics >10 genes associated RET, EDNRG and END3 genes most common
RET variations in >70% TCA cases
Endothelin system gene defects – EDNRB, decreased expression of EDN3 receptor
Longer segments = higher familial association (15-20%)
TCA – Trisomy 21 less common, few reliable associated abnormalities
Associated genetic abnormalities (all variants):
Trisomy 21
Cardiac septal defects
Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome
MEN type 2
Neurofibromatosis
Waardenburg’s syndrome
Anorectal malformations
GU abnormalities
RET thought to be most important in TCA
Endothelin assoc in TCA – 37% vs 5% in HD
MEN syn – higher assoc with longer segment HD

5. Histology
Nerve immunostains significantly decreased in TCA compared to less severe forms
TCA – lack of thick nerve trunks and near total loss of interstitial cells of Cajal
Hypoganglionosis or extended transition zones in TCA animal models
-Usually still see ICC in less severe forms
-Extended transition zone not confirmed in humans

6. Diagnosis
Failure to pass meconium in 1st 48 hrs, abd distension, bilious emesis
TCA may present later and with milder symptoms
Contrast enema
Difficulty finding transition zone in 25% of TCA and false transition zones (more proximal in 10%)
TCA – strongly associated with retention of barium > 24hrs
Rectal and seromuscular biopsies
total colonic HD can have elevated AchE activity in rectum and L colon but show near normal levels in proximal colon
Anorectal manometry
TCA – as much as 27% present after neonatal period; difficulties in Dx in ½ cases
Contrast enema – would indicate transition zone and irregular colonic contractions in the distal segment, if entercolitis – mucosal ulcerations may be present; classic ? – only in 18%
Bx – abscess of both myenteric and submucosal plexus with hypertrophic nerve fibers is dx; also increased AchE staining; enzymatic activity levels in rapid frozen section can help det proximal pt -- note – tot colonic HD can have elevated AchE act in rectum and L colon but show near normal levels in proximal colon
Manometry – used in older children (distend rectum – should see reflexive relaxation of internal sphincter), can r/o HD

7. -classic “?” look of TCA

8. AXR – initial (1d old)

9. AXR 11/7 (HD 4)

10. Treatment Options Initial resuscitation, Abx, NGT
Initial leveling small bowel enterostomy with definitive surgical treatment 6-12 mo later
No consensus on operation with best outcomes
In staged – colostomy with Hartman pouch (unless transition zone is at or above splenic flexure)
LATEP (lap assisst transanal endorectal pull-through)
Pre-pull through mortality rate is 15%

11. Surgical Management Swenson Soave Duhamel – Martin or mod std
Kimura colonic patch
Swenson - removal of the entire aganglionic colon, with an end-to-end anastomosis above the anal sphincter
Soave – attempt to avoid pelvic disection risks of Swenson; submucosal endorectal dissection and placing the pull-through bowel within a "cuff" consisting of aganglionic muscle
Duhamel - the normal colon down through the bloodless plane between the rectum and the sacrum and joining the two walls to create a new lumen, which was aganglionic anteriorly and normally innervated posteriorly
Martin modification – long side-to side anst of ganglionic ileum to aganglionic colon; not often performed due to increased morbidity rate (64%)
Kimura patch - placing a right colon patch segment placed proximal to enterostomy (stoma site) with vascular pedicle intact then on 2nd procedure take the ostomy down and anast to anus as pull through (patch will act to absorb water and slow transit)
*right colon has better H2O abs capacity
Duhamel operation favored in a 2011 study from England among surgeons

13. Surgical Management
Restorative proctocolectomy with J-pouch ileoanal anastomosis
5 - 7 cm-long stapled J-pouch and its apex sewn to the anal canal 1–2 cm above the dentate line
BM frequency is 3 /day at 24 mo (5-6 in PO for typical TCA)
-Used for UC and FAP patients
-Protective ileostomy then f/u with ileostomy closure 3 mo after initial operation

14. Functional Outcomes
Good bowel control in 60% (lack of incontinence, soiling, etc)
1/3 incontinent, 10% in diapers at night
Daily BM rate of 5-6 in childhood and 3-4 in adolescence
Minor developmental delay associated with longer aganglionic segment
TCA pts – >50% below 2nd percentile for weight, 25% underweight at age 5
Other factors such as major devel delay, differences in wt were not statistically significant difference

15. 36 papers analyzed from 1980 to 2011
Of 396 pts in long term f/u - 60% had satisfactory or normal bowel control
25% of the patients were soiling at long-term follow-up.
17.5% need for major operation
Overall long-term poor outcome in this study was 33%
Permanent stomas and the need for rectal dilatations and washouts were considered, with 6.5% of the patients requiring a permanent stoma
Major operation including redo PT, stoma formation, or other laparotomy

16. Post-operative complications
Entercolitis – more common in TCA postoperatively (42% in pull through operations vs 10.6% in rectosigmoid HD)
Related to amount retained aganglionic segment
Obstructive symptoms ~ 10%
Mortality after operation was 1.9% in retro study
Entercolitis – often assoc with outflow obstruction; fever, abdominal distention, diarrhea, elevated white blood cell count, and evidence of intestinal edema on abdominal radiograph
-Tx: nasogastric drainage, intravenous fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and decompression of the rectum and colon using rectal stimulation or irrigations

17. References
Moore S. Total colonic aganglionosis in Hirschsprung disease. Seminars in Pediatric Surgery (2012) 21,
 McLaughlin D, Friedmacher F, Puri P. Total colonic aganglionosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term clinical outcome. Pediatr Surg Int (2012) 28:773–779
 Hukkinen, M , Koivusalo A, Rintala RJ, Pakarinen MP. Restorative proctocolectomy with J-pouch ileoanal anastomosis for total colonic aganglionosis among neonates and infants. Journal of Pediatric Surgery 49 (2014) 570–574.
 Marquez T, Acton R, Hess Donavon, Duval S, Saltzman D. Comprehensive review of the procedures of total colonic aganglionosis. Journal of Pediatric Surgery (2009) 44, 257–265.
 Escobar m, GrosfeldJ, West K, et al. Long-term outcomes in total colonic aganglionosis: a 32-year experience. Journal of Pediatric Surgery (2005) 40, 955–961.
 More K, Rao S, McMichael J, et al.Growth and Developmental Outcomes of Infants with Hirschsprung Disease Presenting in the Neonatal Period: A Retrospective Study. Journal of Pediatric Surgery.
Blackburn et al.. Total Colonic Aganglionosis. European Journal of Pediatric Surgery. July 2013.