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Moza is well after years of suffering

DUBAI — Years of pain and discomfort came to an end for Moza Omer Al Shehhi, a nine-year-old Emirati girl after a breakthrough laparoscopic surgery was performed on her to treat her for Hirschsprung’s disease, a rare disorder.

Moza came to RAK Hospital with complaints of severe abdominal pain, distension (increased pressure in the abdomen) and chronic constipation. She has had a history of being admitted to various hospitals in the past, here and abroad, and had even undergone multiple surgeries for the same problem.

The first surgery was performed when she was barely two years old and the second one at the age of five. However, even then she was not relieved of her symptoms completely and the exact cause of discomfort remained unidentified.

In her recent admission to the emergency department of RAK Hospital, Dr Anup Panigrahi, head of Minimal Invasive Surgery Department at the hospital, suspected her symptoms could be due to Hirschsprung’s disease (congenital megacolon).

This condition affects the large intestine (colon) and causes chronic constipation.

It presents when a baby is born (congenital) and results from missing nerve cells in the muscles of a portion of the baby’s colon. This relative or absolute loss of neurons in the large intestine interferes with the normal movement of bowel contents.

After the extent of her disease was confirmed by the pathologist, Dr Panigrahi performed the surgery by combined laparoscopic and open approach.

He found that almost half of the transverse colon, descending 2/3^rd colon, sigmoid colon and rectum were dilated as a result of the disease. He then made a partial removal or cut out the dilated segment and reconnected the healthy part of transverse colon with the anal canal.

“Hirschsprung’s disease causes about 25 per cent of all newborn intestinal blockages. Milder cases may not be diagnosed until a later age. Therefore it’s important to identify the symptoms and take immediate action. Children who get treated early in life or who have a shorter segment of colon involved have a better outcome,” said Dr Panigrahi. Following the surgery, the child has recovered well. “Our daughter has been suffering for years and even our best efforts couldn’t help alleviate the pain and discomfort.

We have consulted many doctors and visited many hospitals in different countries; and it makes me happy that at last, we were able to get the right treatment at our own emirate Ras Al Khaimah,” said Moza’s parents.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com