[The histochemical diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease according to Meier-Ruge (author's transl)]

The diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease by histochemical techniques as proposed by Meier-Ruge, especially the detection of increased acetylcholine-esterase activity in rectal mucosal biopsy, provides an essential diagnostic improvement. This was confirmed by own experiences in 92 cases. The complicationless mucosal biopsy helps to avoid the more dangerous deep transmural biopsies. Furthermore, the intraoperative diagnosis of the aganglionary or hypoganglionary segment can be improved by histochemical demonstration of dehydrogenases in the intramural parasympathetic plexus. By these means it becomes easy to localize the correct position of the enterostoma as well as to determine the length of the segment to be resected.