Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease by Immunostaining Rectal Suction Biopsies for Calretinin, S100 Protein and Protein Gene Product 9.5
05:45

Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease by Immunostaining Rectal Suction Biopsies for Calretinin, S100 Protein and Protein Gene Product 9.5

Published on: April 26, 2019

14.0K

Increased Utilization of Abdominal Surgical Procedures, Endoscopy and Imaging After Negative Rectal Biopsies for

Niels Bjørn1,2,3, Gunvor Madsen4, Rasmus Gaardskær Nielsen5

  • 1Research Unit for Surgery, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children undergoing rectal biopsy for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) but not diagnosed with HD still experience significantly higher gastrointestinal healthcare utilization. This highlights the need for further investigation into the long-term outcomes for these pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Functional constipation is common in children, often leading to rectal biopsy to rule out Hirschsprung's disease (HD).
  • A significant majority of pediatric patients biopsied for suspected HD receive a negative diagnosis, with limited understanding of their subsequent healthcare needs.
  • Post-biopsy healthcare utilization in children without HD remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess and compare gastrointestinal (GI)-related healthcare utilization in children with negative rectal biopsies for HD versus those diagnosed with HD and healthy controls.
  • To quantify the frequency of GI surgeries, endoscopies, and imaging procedures in these pediatric cohorts.
  • To provide evidence for improved management strategies and resource allocation for children with functional constipation.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide Danish registry-based cohort study (1998-2018) included children under 18 undergoing rectal biopsy for suspected HD.
  • The cohort comprised 1105 children: 128 diagnosed with HD and 977 without HD.
  • A control group of healthy children was matched 1:10 to the non-HD cohort, with GI-related healthcare utilization analyzed pre- and post-biopsy.

Main Results:

  • Children without HD showed substantially higher rates of post-biopsy GI surgeries (11.2% vs. 1.6%), endoscopies (9.4% vs. 0.5%), and imaging (37.1% vs. 7.8%) compared to controls.
  • These increased utilization rates were statistically significant (p < 0.001 for all).
  • The non-HD group experienced 5-10 fold increased GI-related procedures compared to the general population.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients with negative rectal biopsies for Hirschsprung's disease exhibit significantly elevated gastrointestinal healthcare utilization.
  • This finding underscores the potential for undiagnosed conditions or long-term sequelae following negative HD biopsies.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the reasons for increased GI healthcare utilization and optimize care pathways for these children.

Keywords:
Hirschsprung’s diseaseendoscopyimagingrectal biopsyregistry studysurgery

More Related Videos

Surgical Robot-Assisted Transanal Specimen Extraction Radical Sigmoidectomy Without an Auxiliary Abdominal Incision07:22

Surgical Robot-Assisted Transanal Specimen Extraction Radical Sigmoidectomy Without an Auxiliary Abdominal Incision

Published on: June 13, 2025

674
Clinical Application of Single-Surgeon, Three-Port, Laparoscopic Resection for Colorectal Cancer with Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction08:26

Clinical Application of Single-Surgeon, Three-Port, Laparoscopic Resection for Colorectal Cancer with Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction

Published on: March 24, 2023

1.4K

Related Concept Videos

Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy01:26

Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy

Sigmoidoscopy and laparoscopy are distinct medical procedures that enable physicians to internally inspect different parts of the GI tract. Although they serve different purposes, each is essential for diagnosing and, in some cases, treating various medical conditions.
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
568
Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy01:26

Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy

This lesson explores three gastrointestinal imaging techniques: radionuclide testing, colonic transit studies, and virtual colonoscopy.
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and...
377
Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management01:21

Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management

Surgical interventions for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are essential in managing symptoms and addressing complications. The selection of surgical procedures is contingent upon the specific conditions and complications that stem from these illnesses.
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
451