Hirschsprung disease

Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.

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PediatricsGI / Liver / PancreasOB / Newbornhigh priorityneeds review

Hirschsprung disease

Also testable as: Congenital aganglionic megacolon

Practice

Etiology / Pathophysiology

  • Congenital absence of enteric ganglion cells in a bowel segment.
  • Affected bowel cannot relax and move stool, causing obstruction and megacolon risk.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

  • Assess delayed meconium, abdominal distention, bilious vomiting, feeding intolerance, and stool pattern.
  • Monitor for enterocolitis signs: fever, explosive diarrhea, lethargy, worsening distention.
  • Prepare caregivers for rectal biopsy confirmation and surgical pull-through pathway if ordered.

Complications

  • Enterocolitis
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Perforation
  • Sepsis

NCLEX cues

  • No meconium in first 24 to 48 hours.
  • Ribbon-like stools.
  • Enterocolitis is emergency.

Memory hooks

  • No ganglion cells means stool cannot go.

Labs / Diagnostics

  • Rectal biopsy
  • Contrast enema
  • Abdominal x-ray
  • Hydration/electrolytes

Review notes

  • Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.

Drive Pack cross references

Hirschsprung diseaseCondition