Twenty-eight neonates who presented with symptoms suggestive of Hirschsprung's disease have been studied by the technique of anorectal manometry using newly developed, miniaturized instrumentation. Eight infants have demonstrated the typical lack of relaxation of the smoothmuscle internal anorectal sphincter characteristic of Hirschsprung's disease. Aganglionosis has been demonstrated histologically in all eight, including two prematures; the remainder have not developed any sign of Hirschsprung's disease. This miniaturized technique of anorectal manometry may provide an accurate, simple, and atraumatic method for identifying Hirschsprung's disease in the newborn infant.
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