Long-term anorectal function in imperforate anus treated by a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty: manometric investigation.

Thirty imperforate anus patients were investigated by anorectal manometry 5 to 10 years after a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty. Anal resting tone (ART) and anal squeezing pressure (ASP) were subnormal in most patients. Rectal volume (RV) and sensation to balloon distension were within the normal range. Rectoanal reflex inhibition was demonstrated in 9 of 30 patients. Soiling was more common in patients with a very low ART (less than 40 cm H2O) and a low ASP (less than 100 cm H2O). Constipation was more common in patients with a large RV (greater than 150 mL). Still, the correlation to clinical results was incomplete. As regards to the correlation to type of malformation the rectal atresia patients showed near normal results. The vestibular fistula patients were next in results showing rectoanal reflex inhibition in 5/6 patients. There was no difference in the results between bulbar and prostatic fistula patients.