Post-Surgical Gut Microbiota Alterations in Pediatric Patients with Intestinal Disorders

This detailed narrative review focuses on the current understanding of unique alterations in GM colonization and subsequent complications following surgery for significant childhood conditions, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), Hirschsprung’s disease (HD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and short bowel syndrome (SBS). Surgical interventions can alter the diversity and structure of the GM and potentially cause post-surgical complications. Although the data are well-established in adults, there is a lack of pediatric-specific data on post-surgical GM dysbiosis and its complications, including surgical infections, intestinal obstructions (IO), and anastomotic leak (AL). This gap constitutes both a clinical risk and an important therapeutic opportunity. Therefore, research on how to modulate the GM perioperatively in children is needed. Current research provides an initial understanding of the possible post-surgical implications for outcomes of these intestinal disorders. Future studies could clarify GM alterations associated with various pediatric intestinal surgical procedures and their complications, which may influence the evaluation of GM-targeted treatments.