Laparoscopic Swenson pull-through procedure for congenital megacolon.

Constipation that is unresponsive to conventional remedies is the primary symptom of congenital megacolon (ie, Hirschsprung's disease). The cause of congenital megacolon is lack of ganglion cells in the bowel. The laparoscopic Swenson pull-through procedure involves removing the aganglionic segment of the colon, bringing the normally decompressed bowel through the pelvic floor, and anastomosing the bowel to the anorectal verge. Advantages of the laparoscopic approach include shorter lengths of hospital stay and fewer complications resulting from disruption of skin integrity.