Digestive and Liver Congenital Disorders: Expert Pediatric Surgical Solutions Black child and teddy bear in hospital for pediatric surgery recovery, patient and healthy results.

Digestive and Liver Congenital Disorders: Expert Pediatric Surgical Solutions

When your child is born with a digestive or liver condition, you want clear answers, a plan you can trust, and a team that treats your family with care. At Pacific Coast Pediatric Surgery, you receive compassionate guidance alongside expert pediatric surgical care, so you understand what is happening, why treatment is needed, and what recovery looks like.

What congenital digestive and liver disorders mean for your child

Congenital disorders are conditions present at birth. In the digestive system and liver, these include abnormalities that affect how bile drains from the liver, how the intestines move and empty, and how different parts of the gastrointestinal tract formed during development. While some issues are mild and monitored, others require timely surgery to prevent infection, liver damage, malnutrition, or intestinal blockage.

Common conditions that often involve pediatric surgery include:

  • Biliary atresia, where the bile ducts are absent or blocked, causing bile to build up in the liver
  • Choledochal cysts, where abnormal dilations of the bile ducts can cause pain, infection, or pancreatitis
  • Hirschsprung disease, where missing nerve cells in the colon prevent normal bowel movements
  • Intestinal atresia or malrotation, where the intestines are blocked or positioned abnormally
  • Imperforate anus and other anorectal malformations, where the opening is blocked, or connections of the bowel are not formed normally

Early signs and symptoms you might notice

Symptoms vary by condition and age. Newborns and young infants tend to show signs earlier, while some children present later with intermittent concerns. You should call your pediatrician promptly if you notice:

  • Persistent jaundice after the first two to three weeks of life, especially with pale or white stools and dark urine
  • Recurrent abdominal pain, vomiting, or abdominal swelling
  • Chronic constipation from birth, delayed passage of meconium, or explosive stools after rectal exam
  • Poor feeding, poor weight gain, or failure to thrive
  • Recurrent fevers with abdominal pain or signs of infection

None of these symptoms confirms a diagnosis on their own, but they are important signals that warrant evaluation by specialists experienced in pediatric gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary conditions.

How these conditions are diagnosed

Your child’s evaluation typically begins with a detailed history and physical exam, followed by focused testing. Depending on the concern, your care team may recommend:

  • Blood tests to assess liver function, inflammation, and nutrition
  • Ultrasound to examine the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and abdominal organs
  • Hepatobiliary scans (HIDA) to evaluate bile flow
  • Contrast studies of the intestines to look for blockages or malrotation
  • Anorectal manometry or rectal biopsy when Hirschsprung’s disease is suspected
  • MRI or MRCP for detailed imaging of the bile ducts in older infants and children

Your pediatric surgeon collaborates with your pediatrician, gastroenterologist, and radiologist, then explains results in plain language with clear next steps.

The role of surgery and what to expect

Surgery addresses the underlying structural problem so your child can thrive. At Pacific Coast Pediatric Surgery, the approach is personalized and minimally invasive when appropriate, with careful attention to your child’s comfort, safety, and long-term function.

  • Biliary atresia: The Kasai portoenterostomy creates a new pathway for bile to drain from the liver into the intestine, ideally performed in early infancy to protect liver function
  • Choledochal cysts: Complete cyst excision with reconstruction of the bile drainage, often using minimally invasive techniques, helps prevent infection and future complications
  • Hirschsprung disease: A pull-through procedure removes the segment of colon without nerve cells, then connects healthy colon to the anus to restore bowel function; this can be done using minimally invasive approaches in many children
  • Malrotation: The Ladd procedure corrects abnormal attachments and reduces the risk of life-threatening twisting of the intestine
  • Anorectal malformations: Tailored reconstructive surgery aligns anatomy to improve bowel control and quality of life, with coordinated bowel management as your child grows

Before surgery, you will receive a careful walkthrough of the plan, anesthesia, pain control, and recovery timeline. After surgery, you will be guided through feeding progression, activity, signs of complications, and scheduled follow up. Education, reassurance, and reachable support are standard, because you should never feel alone in this process.

What is Hirschsprung disease and how is it treated?

Hirschsprung disease occurs when nerve cells that control bowel movements are missing from part of the colon. Without those cells, the affected segment remains tightly contracted, which blocks stool from passing. Newborns often present with a distended abdomen, vomiting, and delayed passage of meconium. Older infants or children may have chronic constipation, poor weight gain, or frequent enterocolitis with fever and explosive stools.

Diagnosis often involves a rectal biopsy to confirm the absence of ganglion cells. Treatment is surgical. A pull-through operation removes the non-functioning segment and brings healthy, ganglionated bowel down to the anus. Many children can have this done with minimally invasive techniques, and most experience significantly improved bowel function afterward. Some children benefit from ongoing bowel management as they grow, which your surgical team will coordinate. Dr. Frykman is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Hirschsprung disease and management of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC). Links to his PubMed publications are below:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22985838

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24002048

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25909773

Who performs surgery on children?

Children who need operations should be cared for by a board-certified pediatric surgeon, a physician who completed general surgery training followed by specialized pediatric surgery fellowship and certification. Pediatric surgeons understand the unique anatomy, physiology, and emotional needs of children, from newborns to teens, and they work closely with pediatric anesthesiologists, nurses, and child life specialists to keep care safe and family centered.

If you are seeking expert care in Southern California, or pediatric surgery Los Angeles, schedule a consultation with Pacific Coast Pediatric Surgery to learn more about your opinions. 

Which doctor specializes in genetic disorders?

A medical geneticist evaluates, diagnoses, and helps manage genetic disorders. Genetic counselors also play a key role in education and family planning. Many congenital digestive and liver conditions do not have a single genetic cause, yet some are associated with syndromes or family patterns. Your pediatric surgeon will help coordinate referrals to genetics when appropriate, so you receive comprehensive answers and guidance.

What are congenital abnormalities of the chest wall?

Congenital chest wall abnormalities affect the bones and cartilage of the ribcage. The two most common are pectus excavatum, where the breastbone is sunken inward, and pectus carinatum, where it protrudes. These conditions can affect exercise tolerance and self-esteem, and they are evaluated by specialists who can offer minimally invasive surgical correction such as the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum. Alternatively, patients with pectus carinatum may be offered bracing with high success rates. If you are looking to learn more or to connect with a specialist, families often search for a pectus excavatum doctor near me, then consult a pediatric surgeon to discuss options.

Family-focused care at Pacific Coast Pediatric Surgery

Led by Dr. Philip K. Frykman, our practice provides meticulous surgical care with a clear emphasis on communication, empathy, and long-term outcomes. From prenatal consultations to complex colorectal and hepatobiliary procedures, you receive a plan that is evidence based and tailored to your child. Families in greater Los Angeles and the Conejo Valley appreciate accessible explanations, minimally invasive options when suitable, and coordinated follow up that supports growth, nutrition, and development.

If your child has been diagnosed with a congenital digestive or liver condition, or if you’re simply looking for a second opinion, we’re here to help. Our team offers expert care, including specialized pediatric surgery for congenital disorders. When appropriate, we also use minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopic surgery to make recovery easier and more comfortable for your child.

Your next steps

  • Speak with your pediatrician about any concerning symptoms, including prolonged jaundice, pale stools, severe constipation from birth, or recurrent abdominal pain
  • Keep records of symptoms, growth, and prior tests to share with your specialist
  • Ask your pediatric surgeon to walk you through the diagnosis, the procedure, expected hospital stay, and home care, so you feel fully prepared

Summary

Congenital disorders of the digestive system and liver are complex, yet with accurate diagnosis, timely surgery, and thoughtful follow up, most children do very well. You deserve clear explanations and a team that treats your child as their own. Pacific Coast Pediatric Surgery offers comprehensive pediatric surgical care with a compassionate approach, helping your family move from uncertainty to confidence and recovery. If you are ready to talk with a specialist, our team is here to support you, answer your questions, and guide you every step of the way.

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