diagnostic FTRD® – New case series in pediatric patients

First case series using the diagnostic FTRD® in pediatric patients with suspected Hirschsprung’s disease demonstrates 100% technical success and conclusive histopathological results

Key findings

• 100% technical success rate and 100% full-thickness resection rate (13/13 patients)
• Median biopsy size: 18.3 × 14.8 × 3.7 mm (range: 13–22 × 13–21 × 1–8 mm; comparable to open surgical biopsy specimens)
• Histopathological analysis was conclusive in all biopsies (13/13), confirming or excluding Hirschsprung’s disease in each case
• Only 1 adverse event during 1-year follow-up: non-hemodynamically relevant rectal bleeding (successfully managed with electrocautery)
• Procedure was performed under sedation only (no general anesthesia required)
• Patients occasionally needed pain medications, but all patients were discharged pain-free

Study details

• Single-center retrospective case series in Germany (05/2024 – 09/2025)
• 13 pediatric patients aged 3.5–14.4 years (median 9.5 years) with therapy-refractory constipation
• Aim: Evaluation of EFTR using the diagnostic FTRD® as a diagnostic approach for Hirschsprung’s disease in children
• Indications: Therapy-refractory constipation with suspected Hirschsprung’s disease; EFTR was performed 2 cm above the linea dentata in the distal rectum (to exclude an ultrashort variant of Hirschsprung’s disease)
• Median procedure time: 13.8 min (range: 8.5–20 min)
• Median hospital stay: 2 days

González García RA, Riedel M, Regensburger AP, Rückel A, Schnell A, Appel M, Schaefer JT, Geppert C-I, Woelfle J, Hoerning A. Endoscopic Full-Thickness Resection Biopsy Using Ovesco Diagnostic FTRD® as a Tool to Diagnose Hirschsprung’s Disease in Children: A Case Series. Visc Med. Published online 2025, November 08. doi:10.1159/000549052 (Open Access)

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