Clinical characteristics and influence of postoperative Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis: retrospective study at a tertiary children’s hospital

Topic overview

Key takeaways

• Post-HAEC occurs in 30% of patients; early episodes (within 3 months) and recurrent episodes (≥3 in 6 months) significantly worsen nutrition, defecation, and quality of life.
• Early HAEC risk factors: preoperative undernutrition, long-segment disease, and severe postoperative complications (Grade 3-4 within 30 days).
• Recurrent HAEC adds non-parental caregivers as an independent risk factor beyond malnutrition, long-segment disease, and severe early complications.
• Timing and frequency of post-HAEC episodes matter clinically—classification by first episode timing and recurrence frequency aids prognostication and surveillance planning.
• Optimizing preoperative nutrition and minimizing severe early postoperative complications may reduce both early and recurrent HAEC risk.

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