Colorectal Surgery

Does my child need colorectal surgery?

Many colorectal conditions require a surgical procedure to improve your child’s bowel and bladder function and quality of life. Prior to your child’s first appointment at the Comprehensive Colorectal Center (CCC), the colorectal team will review the radiology reports, lab results and other tests. During your visit, the doctors will ask additional questions and often perform an exam.

Sometimes, additional testing, such as an exam under anesthesia, helps your doctors to assess healing and need for surgery. If the team decides that surgery is the best option for your child, we will work with you to schedule the procedure.

One surgery means fewer complications

Because colorectal conditions can involve many different systems of the body, our specialists look at your child's case all together to come up with an individualized approach to treatment. 

Whenever possible, our goal is to provide all the surgical procedures your child needs in one comprehensive surgery. Decreased number of surgeries decrease the need for anesthetics.

Your surgical team

Your surgical team will be led by Dr. Rebecca Rentea, Director, Comprehensive Colorectal Center; Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction Surgery. Dr. Rentea is experienced and pediatric colorectal specialty trained in all procedures related to repairing colorectal conditions and pelvic reconstruction, including a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), cloaca reconstruction called posterior sagittal anorectal vaginal urethral plasty (PSARVUP) and Hirschsprung disease pull-through surgery.

Advanced care for better outcomes

Our doctors use the latest surgical methods and techniques to ensure the best possible outcome for your child. For instance, Children’s Mercy is one of only a few children’s hospitals to utilize a temporary fluorescent dye to assess tissue perfusion during surgery.

Tissue perfusion describes how well blood is flowing to an area. By clearly showing the areas with the greatest perfusion, the dye assists the surgeon’s trained eye in finding the healthiest portions of tissue to use during surgical reconstruction of your child’s colorectal condition.

This safe and effective technology has been used on adults for many years, and now Dr. Rentea and her team are able to bring the benefits of better tissue assessment to children as well.

Talk with your care team

Your team will answer all your questions and make sure you understand your diagnosis and treatment plan. You can always call and talk with them or message your care team through the MyChildrensMercy Patient Portal in between appointments as well.

After surgery

Depending on the type of surgical procedure, your child may be in the hospital for a short stay or be able to return home the same day.  We have several resources that will help manage your child’s condition once they return home, including online tutorials for common home care procedures and a bowel management program and ongoing communication with our team. 

After surgery, we will continue to see your child in the Comprehensive Colorectal Center on a regular basis for follow-up care.

Transitioning teens to adult providers

When it’s time for your teen to transition to an adult provider, we will walk you through the process and make sure your adult provider has all of your history and records.