The Role of Alberto Peña in the Modern Concept of Functional Constipation in Children

Dorot. Medical Center for Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Netanya, Israel

*Corresponding Author: Michael D Levin, Dorot. Medical Center for Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Amnon veTamar, Netanya, Israel, Tel: 972-538281393, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: September 03, 2025

Published Date: October 08, 2025

Citation: Levin MD. (2025). The Role of Alberto Peña in the Modern Concept of Functional Constipation in Children. Mathews J Pediatr. 10(2):46.

Copyrights: Levin MD. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Systematic reviews on functional megacolon (functional constipation) have demonstrated that surgical management is supported by low-quality evidence, and no single procedure has been established as the standard of care. To further explore this issue, we analyzed the literature and the influence of Alberto Peña’s clinical experience. Publications by Peña and his collaborators lack scientific data on the normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the anorectum and colon—knowledge that was developed by earlier generations. Moreover, the contributions of modern physiologists and adult colorectal surgeons have been largely ignored by pediatric surgeons, partly due to the misconception that pediatric colorectal surgery was created by A. Peña. However, Peña has not published any original research studies. He and his colleagues rely primarily on limited clinical experience, often presented in numerous articles proposing various diagnostic and treatment methods tested in small patient cohorts. Despite short postoperative follow-up periods—insufficient for assessing long-term outcomes, their publications often report positive results and advocate widespread adoption of these techniques. Unsatisfactory outcomes are frequently hushed up, and new, similarly unsubstantiated procedures are proposed. Many pediatric surgeons, emulating this model, continue to publish research in a scientific vacuum. These articles often describe new techniques co-authored by all doctors in the department, and do not compare the new methods with existing alternatives to confirm their superiority. A review of Peña’s publications and the broader body of literature on functional megacolon in children reveals a landscape marked by methodological inconsistency and lack of rigor, where the drive for publication appears to outweigh concern for patient benefit.

Keywords: Functional Constipation, Functional Megacolon, Surgery, Colonic Resection, Antegrade Enema, Senna, Conservative Treatment, Alberto Peña, Pathophysiology Chronic Constipation.