Where comprehensive care, personalized attention and world-class experience meet to treat patients with complex colorectal disorders.

The International Center for Colorectal and Urogenital Care at Children's Colorado evaluates and treats patients with conditions that affect bowel control. Families may contact Dr. Alberto Peña (Alberto.Pena@childrenscolorado.org) and Dr. Andrea Bischoff (Andrea.Bischoff@childrenscolorado.org) for everything from pre-natal consultations to colorectal surgery and bowel management to delivering babies of patients with colorectal disorders.

Our Center offers personalized expedited care for children born with conditions like anorectal malformation, Hirschsprung's disease, or who have experienced tumors or trauma in the pelvis. Patients and families benefit from a multidisciplinary team that includes all of the pediatric specialties your child needs to treat this complex health concern.

Our colorectal team is led by Dr. Alberto Peña, an internationally renowned pediatric colorectal surgeon, who transformed colorectal treatment by introducing the posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), also known as the "Peña Pull-Through Procedure". This method is widely used by top surgeons all over the world and has since been adapted to treat multiple conditions.

Learn more about anorectal malformation — one of the many conditions we treat — and how it is treated with the PSARP: 

What to expect from the Colorectal and Complex Floor Disorders Program

Personalized care

If your child has been diagnosed with a colorectal condition either at birth or before and is struggling with incontinence (bowel accidents and/or urinary accidents), the first step is to contact the Center. Our dedicated pediatric colorectal surgeons provide personalized care quickly to help you understand your child’s disorder.

Thorough evaluations

During your visit, a pediatric surgeon will complete an evaluation and discuss your child’s full medical history. Specialists address any additional heart, spine and urinary health challenges your child may be having.

Initial evaluations do not include any invasive testing. Additional x-rays, MRI, ultrasounds or a contrast enema may be needed later in the treatment process. Children’s Colorado performs all testing on site.

A treatment plan tailored to your child

The goal of the first visit is to address any congenital conditions or identify the cause of your child’s symptoms. At the end of the appointment, our care team will provide a treatment plan tailored specifically to your child’s needs.

Dedicated pediatric colorectal surgeons, leaders in colorectal treatment

Our dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and physician assistants make up the most experienced program in the world. We treat kids from our local communities in Colorado, the entire Rocky Mountain region and from overseas. This Center supports, counsels and provides surgical and management options for patients dealing with bowel and/or urinary incontinence.

A team of specialists from multiple pediatric departments

We are dedicated to helping your child achieve optimal bowel and urinary function and to improving your child's physical and social quality of life. Specialists that your child may see include:

• Pediatric colorectal surgeon
• Pediatric urologist
• Pediatric neurosurgeon
• Pediatric gynecologist
• Pediatric gastroenterologist
• Pediatric orthopedist
• Nurse practitioner
• Psychologist
• Dietitian
• Child life specialist

A lifetime of treatment all on one campus

Children with colorectal and urogenital conditions may continue to be challenged with bowel and urinary problems throughout their life. Our Center partners with the University of Colorado Hospital so that as children age out of pediatric care, our colorectal team helps pediatric patients transition into adult care without missing a beat – right on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

In addition, we understand our female patients may need help as they think about starting families of their own. Children’s Colorado is also home to the Colorado Fetal Care Center, which allows our colorectal surgeons to be involved in everything from fertility to delivery.

Conditions we treat

• Anorectal malformations or imperforate anus
• Cloacal anomaly/cloacal extrophy
• Hirschsprung's disease
• Pelvic tumors
• Pelvic trauma
• Incontinence, or bowel accidents and soiling, due to spina bifida, neurogenic bowel, tethered spinal cord, and sacral agenesis
• Severe idiopathic constipation

If you are unsure if your child has one of the above conditions, consult your pediatrician or contact us at 720-777-9880.

Services we offer

• Colorectal surgery is performed by dedicated pediatric colorectal surgeons Dr. Alberto Peña and Dr. Andrea Bischoff, leaders in colorectal care and management.
• Bowel management week is a week long program where children suffering from fecal incontinence (lack of bowel control) learn a form of management that keeps them artificially clean for 24 hours.
• Childbirth for women with colorectal disorders is done in partnership with specialists at the Colorado Fetal Care Center to help women give birth to their babies in a safe and knowledgeable environment.
• Pediatric to adult transition program works hand-in-hand with the care team at the University of Colorado Hospital to help your child transition seamlessly to adult care.  
• Pre-natal consultations are available for parents who have just learned that their child may be born with a colorectal disorder.
• A parent support group meets every other month at Children’s Colorado’s on Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Please contact us for more information.
• A clinical psychologist counsels and supports patients and families who are struggling with a new diagnosis, having a difficult time providing care, experiencing teasing or bullying at school and other similar problems.

Resources for patients and families

• Pull-thru Network is the largest organization in the world that informs, educates, supports and advocates for patients and families affected by conditions like anorectal malformation and colon disease. 
• United Ostomy Association of America, Inc. provides support groups and services for children and families dealing with bowel and urinary conditions.
• Youth Rally is a five-night summer camp for kids and teens living with conditions that affect the bowel and/or bladder.
• New patient medical records release (.pdf)
• New patient registration worksheet (.pdf)

Contact us

Phone: (720) 777-9880
Fax: (720) 777-7891
Email: colorectal@childrenscolorado.org