Question
A one-month-old baby has been diagnosed with congenital megacolon, and the doctor recommends waiting three to four months before undergoing surgery. Can surgery be performed during this period?
Answer
For congenital megacolon, especially in cases of long-segment or total colonic type, or severe congenital enteroneurodevelopmental abnormalities that may affect the entire digestive tract, colostomy surgery is necessary. During the surgical process, extensive tissue biopsy of the intestinal wall should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. According to our hospital’s statistics, the outcomes, complications, and sequelae of megacolon surgery in neonates are worse than those in infants who undergo surgery three months later. Therefore, we recommend waiting until the baby is three months old before performing surgery. This recommendation is also internationally recognized.