1.9K Reviews    |    4.7 Star Rating    |    20+ years of experience    |    72k+ Patients Treated

top Hirschsprug's Disease Doctor

Leaving behind his native state of Hyderab, Dr Bharat Pothuri is the specialist who offers complete and expert care to patients with Hirschsprungs disease at GastroDoxs, Houston. His family friendly compassionate and patient care provides individualized care to infants, children and adults based on comprehensive clinical assessment and imaging, dietary education, medications and minimally invasive surgery.

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Texas Medical Board
Harris County Medical Society
American College of Gastroenterology
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Memorial hermann
Houston Methodist leading Medicine
HCA Houston Healthcare
Bharat Pothuri

About the Expert

Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a board-certified gastroenterologist and the founder of GastroDoxs. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.

Usual Causes and Risk Factors.

  • Nerve cells (ganglion cells) fail to develop in the colon prior to birth.
  • Hirschsprung disease family history.
  • Correlations with other genetic disorders (such as Down syndrome)
  • Increased in males compared to females.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Babies that fail to pass meconium at 48 hours subsequent to birth.
  • Repeated constipation or extremely slow growth of infants and children.
  • Swelling (distention), vomiting or diarrhea in the stomach.
  • Murky colored, ribbon-shaped stools or bowel obstruction.

The medical treatment of Hirschsprug by Dr. Bharat Pothuri.

Dr. Pothuri takes the step-by-step approach:

History and Physical Exam Medical History.

He examines the history of the birth of your child, bowel-movements, family history of Hirschsprung disease and other genetic vulnerabilities. He gives a close examination of the abdomen looking at distension and tenderness.

Abdominal Imaging

  • Plain abdominal X-ray or ultrasound to determine stool accumulation, megacolon or air-fluid levels.
  • Contrast (barium) enema to describe the colon, with a view of a transition zone between normal and aganglionic bowel.

Rectal Suction Biopsy

A small tissue specimen of the rectal wall is made to rule out the presence of ganglionic (nerve) cells in microscope the gold standard of diagnosing Hirschsprung disease under the microscope.

Advanced Testing (if needed)

In some instances, anorectal manometry is to be applied and assess muscle reflexes in the rectum and exclude any other motility disorders.

Dr. Bharat Pothuri
Treatment

Our Team provides a complete scope of treatment of Hirschsprung.

1. Lifestyle and Diet Changes

  • Eat more fiberous and have enough fluids.
  • Have a standard bathroom habit.
  • Check weight gain and growth among children.

2. Medications

  • Mild cases stimulant or osmotic laxatives.
  • Bowel softeners to help move the bowel movements.
  • Antibiotics in case of an infection.

3. Minimal intervention or hi-Tech Procedures.

  • Transanal pull-through surgery to debride the affected colon.
  • Surgery with fewer incisions through a laparoscope.
  • In severe cases, temporary colostomy so that the colon can heal.
1.5K

Patients Treated

Dr. Pothuri has treated more than 1.5K patients, helping individuals improve their digestive health and overall well-being through expert, personalized care.

20Y

Years of Experience

With over 20 years of experience, GastroDoxs has been a trusted provider of gastroenterology care, focusing on delivering the best outcomes for patients

Bharat Pothuri

About the Author

Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hirschsprung disease?

It is an intestinal defect whereby nerve cells are deprived of a portion of the colon thus obstructing the passage of stool.

What is the prevalence of Hirschsprung disease?

Its prevalence is estimated to be 1 out of every 5,000 births and is less prevalent in girls than in boys.

What are the tests that are used to diagnose Hirschsprung disease?

Diagnosis Diagnosis includes a rectal suction biopsy, contrast (barium) enema, as well as imaging including X-ray or ultrasound.

Is Hirschsprung disease muscular in adults?

Yes. Mild exhibitions can be shown later in life because of constipation chronicity or abdominal pain.

Are surgical treatments absent?

In light ones, changes in diet (high in fiber or fluids), regular activities and stool softeners or laxatives may suffice.

What is the time taken to recover after surgery?

The majority of the patients leave the hospital within a couple of days after the surgery and resume normal functioning within a few weeks.

Is insurance applicable in Houston?

Many plans do. The support of the verification of the benefit and pre-authorization is conducted with the help of our team at GastroDoxs.

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