Meridian Health

When Priscilla Mohalley went to the hospital in July 2011 to have her first child, she couldn’t wait to take her infant home. But soon after son Evan Mason was born, he stopped eating. He no longer had bowel movements, and his stomach was swollen.

At just 5 days old, Evan was brought to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was diagnosed with an uncommon condition called Hirschsprung’s disease.

“I was so worried about Evan,” says Priscilla. “Aside from my family and fiancé, if it wasn’t for the doctors and nurses in the intensive care unit, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Hirschsprung’s disease is present at birth and affects only one in every 5,000 children. It occurs when nerves are missing from part of the large intestine. Without nerves, the large intestine cannot push digested material through. This causes severe intestinal blockage.

“Hirschsprung’s is a serious disease,” explains Ahmed Mami, M.D., a new pediatric surgeon at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. “Without treatment, it can cause malnutrition, severe constipation, vomiting, and even death.”

Dr. Mami is an expert in surgery for infants and children and has special training in treating pediatric colorectal disease. To treat Evan, Dr. Mami performed a fairly new and complicated surgery called the pull-through procedure.

New Procedure Offers Solution to Colorectal Disease

The pull-through procedure is performed using tiny instruments, which the surgeon guides through the anus to the colon. Without making incisions, the surgeon removes the abnormal section of the colon and the rectum. The healthy colon is then pulled through and reattached to the anus.

Typically, the pull-through procedure is not performed until a child is 1 year old. Because an infant’s colon is so small, it’s very difficult to operate on. As a result, babies born with Hirschsprung’s disease usually have a colostomy first to stabilize their condition until the pull-through procedure can be completed. A colostomy is an invasive surgery that involves cutting the colon and attaching it to the abdomen where digested material is collected in a colostomy bag.

“I didn’t want to put Evan through a lot of surgeries and just wanted him to have the pull-through procedure right away,” explains Priscilla. “Dr. Mami listened to me. From the minute I met him, I had no doubt in my mind that he would help my son.”

Expertise Helps Infant Avoid Pain, Multiple Surgeries

Dr. Mami was able to successfully prepare Evan’s colon for surgery, relieving the pressure and temporarily clearing the blockage. Satisfied the surgery was safe, Dr. Mami performed the difficult pull-through procedure on 3-week-old Evan. It was a success.

“Although difficult, treating Hirschsprung’s disease with only the pull-through procedure is ideal when possible,” says Dr. Mami. “Because the procedure is minimally invasive, it is much easier on the patient than more invasive treatments. It results in less pain and leaves no scars.”

Just four weeks after surgery, Evan is all smiles. He no longer has severe digestive problems and is able to eat normally. In one month, Evan gained a healthy 4 pounds.

“He is a happy baby. It’s like nothing ever happened to him,” says Priscilla. “I put my son in Dr. Mami’s hands and am so glad Evan is now all right.”

About the Doctor

Ahmed G. Mami, M.D.
Board certified in General Surgery
Eatontown | 732-935-0407