[Hirschsprung's disease in children].

Based on a series of 283 cases of Hirschsprung's disease seen and treated in the Surgical Clinic of the Hôpital des Enfants-Malades in Paris, the authors describe the current features of the disease which generally presents in the neonatal or post-natal period, the modalities of diagnosis which involve manometric and histochemical techniques more than radiology, the established of a prognosis and a protocol of therapeutic indications based on the evaluation of the coefficient of elasticity of the rectal wall and of the site of colonic distension. The pathophysiology of the major complication, enterocolitis, is described together with methods of prevention and treatment. 100 patients have been operated with a follow-up of between 5 and 25 years. In 85% of cases, the long term results are excellent or good.