Transanal coloanal anastomosis for Hirschsprung's disease: comparison between endorectal and perirectal pull-through procedures.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the results of 2 procedures of transanal pull-through for the management of rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease.

METHODS

Twenty-one consecutive children with rectal or rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease were operated on between November 1999 and April 2003, in two pediatric surgical departments (Dijon and Strasbourg). Twelve children underwent a transanal perirectal pull-through procedure (TPR) and 9 had a transanal endorectal (Soave) pull-through procedure (TER). The collected data in each group included demographic data, length of aganglionosis, age and weight at operation, operating time, duration of hospital stay, incidence of postoperative complications (sepsis, enterocolitis, stricture) and quality of fecal continence on long-term follow-up.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between the TPR and TER groups with respect to mean age at presentation, length of aganglionosis (rectosigmoid in 10/12 and 8/9 patients respectively), age at operation, with seventeen children operated on before one year of age (mean 3.8 and 3.3 months, respectively) and duration of hospital stay (5.2 vs. 5.3 days), frequency of bowel movements at 3 months postoperatively (1 - 3 per day). Mild differences were observed between TPR and TER groups for gender (ratio M : F 5 : 1 vs. 2 : 1), gestational age at term (39 vs. 37.5 weeks), birth weight (3240 g vs. 2520 g) and operating time (116 min vs. 138 min). No iatrogenic injury of the surrounding pelvic structures occurred during surgery and no blood transfusion was required in either of the groups. A retrorectal pelvic abscess was found in one child of the TPR group. It resolved after an enterostomy had been performed with parenteral antibiotics. Anal dilatation for postoperative anorectal stricture was required in 3 and 2 patients, respectively, for the TPR and TER groups. A mild postoperative enterocolitis developed in one case in the TER group. The average follow-up period was 35.3 months, but ten children still wear diapers, making a functional evaluation difficult. Constipation was noted in 4 and 3 patients, respectively, for the TPR and TER groups. No permanent soiling has been noted at long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

As an objective assessment of fecal continence could not yet be done for this short series, further follow-up is required. Up to now, no significant difference was observed between these two transanal pull-through procedures.