Comprehensive Colorectal Center Research
The Comprehensive Colorectal Center (CCC) at Children's Mercy provides the complete spectrum of multidisciplinary colorectal care to patients and their families. Aligning with that mission, the center is seeking to answer several research questions in order to improve care for their patients.
Patients with Hirschsprung disease, functional constipation, anorectal malformations, cloaca and acquired colorectal conditions require complex longitudinal care. Current research foci at the CCC include examination of long-term quality of life and functional outcomes, advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques for repair and reconstruction, bowel management strategies, and implementation and evaluation of a telehealth platform to provide multidisciplinary colorectal care.
A treatment algorithm to standardize the management of patients who present with Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (an infection of the colon) was implemented in July 2018. This algorithm, which includes antibiotics and rectal irrigations, also added the use of Botox injections to relieve internal anal sphincter dysfunction and increased education to families and caregivers about the signs and symptoms of early enterocolitis and how to perform rectal irrigations. In a retrospective review, patients who were managed after algorithm implementation had shorter hospital stays and recurrence rates requiring inpatient admission.
In addition, the CCC is involved in multi-institutional studies in collaboration with the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC), an international consortium of surgeons, scientists and other specialists in order to facilitate research on anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung disease and other colorectal and pelvic disorders. This partnership will be a powerful tool to answer some of the most pressing questions in pediatric colorectal care. Several CCC studies were showcased at the PCPLC Virtual Conference in 2020 and are stepping stones for future research within the PCPLC.
Rebecca Rentea, MD, is the Director of the Comprehensive Colorectal Center at Children’s Mercy.