Why Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

• Le Bonheur has been verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program (ACS CSV). Le Bonheur is the first hospital in Tennessee to achieve this designation.
• Le Bonheur is ranked as a top Gastroenterology and GI Surgery program by U.S. News and World Report.  
• We do more minimally invasive surgeries on children for a broader range of conditions than any institution in our region. Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques when appropriate, which means less pain and quicker recoveries for your child.
• Our pediatric colorectal care team brings together experts from many specialties to support your child’s health at every step. Pediatric surgeons, nurse practitioners, gastro mobility specialists, registered pediatric dietitians, nurses, pelvic floor physical therapists, psychologists and child life specialists work closely together to create a personalized care plan for your child. By combining our skills and experience, we provide coordinated, compassionate care that helps children achieve the best possible bowel function and quality of life.

Conditions We Treat

• Anorectal Malformations / Imperforate Anus: Anorectal malformations (including imperforate anus) are conditions a baby is born with that affect how the bottom opening forms. With quick diagnosis and the right surgical care, most children go on to grow, thrive, and live healthy, active lives.
• Cloacal Exstrophy: A congenital malformation where abdominal organs (bladder and intestines) are exposed.   Can cause splitting of the bladder, genitalia, and anus.
• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) Syndrome: Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is a genetic condition that causes hundreds of polyps to form in the colon and can increase the risk of cancer later in life. With early monitoring, genetic guidance, and specialized colorectal care, we help families protect their child’s long-term health and well-being.
• Fecal incontinence/soiling: Involuntary passage of stool, often due to constipation or other medical conditions.
• Hirschsprung’s Disease: Hirschsprung’s disease is a condition a baby is born with where nerve cells are missing in part of the intestine, making it hard for stool to pass. With expert diagnosis, surgical repair, and ongoing support, our Colorectal Center helps children achieve healthier bowel function and thrive as they grow.
• Idiopathic Constipation: Idiopathic constipation is chronic difficulty passing stools when no clear medical cause is found. Through specialized evaluation, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing support, Le Bonheur’s Colorectal Center helps children achieve comfortable, healthy bowel habits.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, causes ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract and can lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and growth concerns. With expert diagnosis, personalized treatment, and long-term support, our program helps children manage symptoms and live healthy, active lives.
• Cloacal Malformation (Cloaca): This rare birth defect affects female infants, where the rectum, vagina and urinary tract fail to separate. Our multidisciplinary team works to perform a staged surgical reconstruction for patients who present with this malformation.  

Unique Services

• Intestinal Rehabilitation: The Children’s Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic at Le Bonheur (CIRCLe) is a specialized clinic for children with gastrointestinal issues leading to problems with nutrition. A child being seen at CIRCLe may have had some part of their gut surgically removed, may receive nutrition through a vein catheter or may receive formula through a feeding tube.
• Bowel Management: This is an outpatient program to help those who cannot control their bowel activity. We use a variety of techniques to help give a child the best quality of life, aiming to be accident-free. 
• Complex Hirschsprung's Disease Management: With expert diagnosis, surgical repair, and ongoing support, our Colorectal Center helps children achieve healthier bowel function and thrive as they grow.
• Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS): An SNS implant works like a pacemaker for your bladder and bowels. It restores normal communication between your brain and the nerves that control the pelvic floor and bladder muscles.
• Minimally Invasive Surgeries: These procedures include the Malone Procedure (MACE) and J-Pouch surgery. 
• Pelvic Floor Therapy: Our physical therapist leads our patients through specialized physical therapy to help them retain the muscles of the pelvic floor and anal sphincter.  

What to Expect

While every patient’s journey is different, you and your child can expect a supportive and comprehensive visit that may include:

• Testing, if needed
• Time with a nurse to help guide your visit
• A physical exam, when appropriate
• A visit with your provider to discuss your individualized plan of care

Arriving at your appointment: 

Please arrive 15 minutes early for your child's appointment. Most of our patients will have a coordinated radiology appointment to complete before their appointment. If so, you will go to radiology first. If not, please come straight to your appointment.

At your appointment:

At your first visit, you will meet with the colorectal provider or surgeon and a nurse. During this visit, we will review any recent testing your child has completed, such as an abdominal X‑ray or contrast enema. We will also ask how your child’s current bowel regimen is working at home.

Because every child’s experience is unique, you and your family may meet several members of our multidisciplinary team during this visit and in future appointments, as we work together to support your child’s ongoing care and needs. We will work closely with our team, your child, and your family to develop a personalized care plan for your child, and we will take time to review it together before your visit ends.

Colorectal Clinic Locations

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center
51 N. Dunlap St.
Memphis, TN 38105

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center - East Memphis
100 N. Humphrey's Blvd. 
Memphis, TN 38120

Schedule An Appointment

If you would like to schedule an appointment with the Colorectal Center, email us at colorectalcenter@lebonheur.org or fill out the form below.

Patient Resources

• Pull Thru Network
• United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.
• Research Education and Awareness for Children with Hirschsprung Disease
• Sibling Support Network
• Parents Helping Parents

Meet Our Colorectal Center Team

Surgeons

Nurse Practitioner

Gastroenterologists

Urologists

Interventional Radiologists

Psychologist

Clinic Manager

Additional Team Members