We provide surgical treatment and care for children of all ages with a range of colorectal conditions.

For children with colorectal conditions – which are conditions that affect the colon or rectum – the team in the Pediatric Colorectal Surgery Program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, provides advanced, expert care.

Our program serves families in the greater Tampa Bay area and beyond. Through collaborations with Tampa General Hospital and HCA Florida Hospital Brandon, surgeons from our Johns Hopkins All Children’s team also treat patients at these hospitals, so your child can receive the specialized care they need closer to home.

Why Choose Johns Hopkins All Children’s

An Experienced Team

We treat a high volume of patients with a variety of colorectal disorders, from infants to young adults. We combine our expertise with insights from current research to provide our patients with leading-edge care. We all practice minimally invasive surgical techniques. Learn more about the Pediatric Colorectal Surgery Program team.

Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Care

Our pediatric general surgeons work closely with the gastroenterology specialists at Johns Hopkins All Children’s, as well as the radiology and pathology teams to provide our patients with comprehensive care from diagnosis to surgery and follow-up care. As part of the Intestinal Rehabilitation Program and in working closely with the Spina Bifida Clinic, our surgeons provide care for children with other complex medical conditions. Our pathology team also works with our Johns Hopkins Medicine colleagues in Baltimore, a relationship that gives our patients access to all of Johns Hopkins’ expertise in Florida and Baltimore.

Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital has been verified as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program. Verified centers must meet standards that ensure that children facing surgery receive care under a multidisciplinary program with quality improvement and safety processes, data collection, and appropriate resources provided to them as patients at the hospital. Our experienced team is available 24/7 for patients with urgent or emergent cases.

Support for the Transition to Adult Care

As children reach the age to transition from pediatric to adult care, we work closely with our patients and their families to help their children achieve independence and confidence as they move toward adult-centered care and to be active participants in their health care. The gastroenterology team often continues to provide care for our patients as they enter adulthood.

Conditions We Treat

We provide care for a range of colorectal conditions.

Child and adolescent colorectal conditions:

• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Neonatal colorectal conditions:

• Anorectal malformations
• Hirschsprung’s disease

Other neonatal and pediatric colorectal conditions

• Bowel obstruction
• Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, a complication of cystic fibrosis
• Meconium plug syndrome
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Trauma-related bowel issues

Services We Provide

Among the services we provide to treat colorectal conditions are:

Antegrade continence enema (ACE): This is a surgical procedure that takes part of the appendix or a small piece of intestine to create a tube to the abdomen through which a flush (enema) can be administered. This procedure is done to wash out the colon to treat chronic constipation or fecal incontinence that hasn’t responded to other standard treatments.

Colectomy: A surgical procedure done to treat severe gastrointestinal diseases that involves removing all or part of the colon.

Contrast enema: This is a type of diagnostic imaging that is not painful and does not require sedation. Contrast (which is a type of dye) is inserted into the rectum and intestine through a small tube in the anus. This imaging looks for dilation and any significant size changes in the colon.

Full thickness biopsy: Performed under general anesthesia, a thicker piece of intestinal tissue is removed for examination.

Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP): A surgical procedure used to repair birth defects related to the passing of stool. The rectum is moved to the correct position, and a new anus is created.

Pull through procedure (coloanal anastomosis): This is a surgical procedure to remove an abnormal section of intestine without ganglion cells and connect it to the rectum.

Suction rectal biopsy: A small sample of the lining of the intestine is taken to evaluate for ganglion cells. This is typically performed at the bedside with little to no sedation.

Temporary colostomy: An operation that diverts the pathway of stool to the abdomen. A corrective operation is then performed at a later date and colostomy is reversed.

What to Expect

Your child’s care team will determine the treatment that will best meet their needs depending on their individual condition. We will thoroughly explain the recommended treatment or surgery and answer any questions you may have.

When your child needs surgery, our team is here to guide you and your child through each step of the process. This includes your child’s pre-operative consultation, anything you need to do to prepare for your child’s surgery, and what to expect the day of. Learn more about what happens before and on the day of your child’s surgery.

We also offer a number of other resources and support services for families. Learn more about some of the resources available to your family.