Background/purpose: The authors present their experience and results in the treatment of infants with imperforate anus over a 10-year period. Differences between these and previously published western results are noted and discussed.
Methods: One hundred eight patients with imperforate anus were treated from June 1988 to July 1998. Of these patients, 66 were boys and 42 were girls. Associated anomalies include congenital heart disease, anomalies of bone and cartilage, and Down's syndrome. Thirty-five patients with a low lesion received a limited posterior sagittal anorectoplasty. Seventy-one patients had a high lesion and received 3-staged operations including colostomy, posterior sagittal anorectoplasty, and takedown of colostomy. All patients underwent follow-up by the author. Postoperative anorectal function was evaluated based on the following criteria: ability to have voluntary bowel movement, soiling, and constipation. The duration of follow-up ranges from 6 months to 10 years.
Results: One patient died of multiple congenital anomalies after colostomy. One patient died of hyaline membranous disease. All except 2 patients had voluntary bowel movement. Three patients had soiling, and 19 suffered from constipation after operation. The constipation improved with medical treatment and time. Four patients who received the first operation at another hospital (3 underwent posterior sagittal anorectoplasty and 1 had cutback anoplasty) had problems with soiling. In these patients, soiling improved after redo posterior sagittal anorectoplasty.
Conclusions: Utilizing the posterior sagittal operation described by Peña, most patients were continent and able to have voluntary bowel movements. Constipation occurred in a substantial number of patients with high-type lesions, but few of these patients needed medication or enemas. There were significantly fewer sacral and urogenital anomalies than have been reported in most western series. This may explain the excellent results.