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Conditions & Advice
The Connection Journey
We're pairing families who received a new diagnosis with families who have been through the journey. See their heartfelt stories.
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Children’s Hospital Colorado
Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045
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See a listing of all our Children’s Hospital Colorado locations including inpatient, outpatient, therapy, surgery facilities and more.
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In life-threatening emergencies, find the emergency room location nearest you. For non-life-threatening medical needs when your pediatrician is unavailable, visit one of our convenient urgent care locations.
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Cloacal Repair and Treatment
Surgical treatment of cloaca
Cloaca is a complex condition that requires multiple surgeries. The surgical treatment a child will need depends on the type of cloaca they have and any other health problems they were born with.
Knowing your baby needs one surgery is scary, but knowing they need more than one surgery can feel overwhelming. Tashi's parents share their experience with the surgeries she has had and how their family has managed the journey.
Colostomy and PSARVUP surgery
After a baby with cloaca is born, they usually need a colostomy within 24 hours. A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening on the abdomen through which stool passes. The next surgery a female with cloaca needs is a reconstructive surgery called posterior sagittal anorecto-vagino-urethroplasty (PSARVUP).
During PSARVUP, the surgeon separates the urethra, vagina and rectum so there are three perineal openings at the end of the operation, instead of one. The type of surgery your child needs depends on the length of the common channel.
Cloacal repair and treatment timeline
Cloaca treatment occurs in stages. The treatment a child will need depends on the type of cloaca they have and any other health problems they have. The timeline below is an example of the treatment a child with cloaca may need.
24 hours to 2 months old
- Tests to rule out other health problems
- Drainage of hydrocolpos (fluid buildup in the vagina)
- Surgery to create a colostomy
5 to 8 years old
- Antegrade continence enema (ACE) procedure (if enemas are needed for life)
- Mitrofanoff procedure (if intermittent catheterization is needed for life and urethral catheterization is not possible)
Our multidisciplinary treatment approach
Our multidisciplinary care team is dedicated to helping your child achieve the best outcomes possible to improve their quality of life. Our expert team includes pediatric colorectal surgeons, urologists, gynecologists, neurosurgeons, gastroenterologists, orthopedists, psychologists and dietitians.
Find a doctor
Browse and connect with world-class colorectal and urogenital surgeons at Children's Colorado.
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Meet more patients
Read inspiring stories about other patients born with an anorectal malformation and how they persevered.
See their stories
Helpful resources
Our International Center for Colorectal and Urogenital Care is home to world-renowned surgeons, Alberto Peña, MD, and Andrea Bischoff, MD.
Find what you need"We feel extremely fortunate that we happened to be in Colorado near Children's Hospital."
Karsang, Tashi's father
Partnership with the University of Colorado School of Medicine
Children's Hospital Colorado partners with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where many of our physicians and care providers serve as faculty.