[Hirschsprung's disease in newborns]

The authors examined and treated 52 newborn babies and infants with Hirschsprung's disease. The total form was encountered in 25%, the subtotal in 23.1%, the rectosigmoid in 36.5%, the rectal in 9.6%, and the supraanal in 5.8% of cases. The clinical picture was characterized by retention of meconium (94.2%), regurgitation or vomiting (75%), abdominal distention (100%). Irrigography with calculation of the rectosigmoid ratio was conducted in 35 children, histochemical examination in 46, and histological examination in 38 children. Twenty-four (68.5%) children had the third phase of disturbed proportion of the intestinal bacteria with clinical manifestations of enterocolitis. Emergency decompression of the intestine for low acute intestinal obstruction was carried out in 27 newborn babies. Twenty children were subjected to radical surgery in the first 2-4 months of life. The choice of the operative method was guided by the form of the disease and the length of the aganglionic zone.