Transition of care in pediatric surgical patients with complex gastrointestinal disease

Pediatric surgeons provide care for infants and children with a wide variety of conditions throughout the body. Many of these conditions are congenital or occur very early in life, and for this reason, providing continuity of care for these patients into adulthood is an emerging challenge. In the gastrointestinal tract, congenital and acquired conditions are now associated with excellent long-term prognosis; however, little guidance on long-term care exists. The aim of this article is to discuss aspects that are important to transitioning care of pediatric surgical patients with complex gastrointestinal disorders from pediatric to adult practitioners. Transitional care of patients with short bowel syndrome, Hirschsprung Disease, and anorectal malformations will be the focus of this discussion, but the concepts introduced here may translate to other diagnoses as well.