Transitional Care in Anorectal Malformation and Hirschsprung's Disease
Topic overview
Systematic review identifying key barriers in transitioning ARM and HD patients from pediatric to adult care: patient knowledge gaps, lack of adult surgeon expertise in pediatric conditions, and absence of structured programs. Recommends joint clinics, standardized guidelines, and fostering patient autonomy.
Key takeaways
- Patients with ARM/HD often lack understanding of their condition, leading to over-reliance on pediatric teams and resistance to adult care.
- Adult colorectal surgeons frequently lack training in pediatric colorectal conditions, creating care gaps during transition.
- Joint pediatric-adult transition clinics with structured protocols improve continuity of care for ARM and Hirschsprung patients.
- Fostering patient autonomy and independence before transition reduces reliance on pediatric surgical teams.
- Standardized transition guidelines are needed to benchmark quality of care for pediatric colorectal conditions moving to adult services.
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