Purpose: The authors describe a modified technique of primary transanal rectosigmoidectomy for Hirschsprung's disease (HD), using a Swenson like procedure to perform the anastomosis between the colon and the rectum, and the preliminary results from this in children.
Methods: Twenty children, of whom, 90% were boys and 10% girls, 50% white and 50% nonwhite, aged 15 days to 10 years and with HD proven via biopsy, underwent a transanal pull-through procedure over a 29-month period. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 29 to 5 months. The proximal cut edge of the mucosal and submucosal cuff was tagged with multiple polypropylene 4-0 sutures, which were used for traction of the intestinal layers outside. The rectal mucosa was incised circumferentially using cautery, to perform rectal dissection approximately 1.5 cm from the dentate line, except in newborn case, in which the proximal cut edge was 0.5 cm from the dentate line. The dissection extended in an upward direction around the entire rectal circumference as far as the opening of the peritoneal reflection. The full thickness of rectum and sigmoid were mobilized outside through the anus, with division and coagulation of the rectal and sigmoid vessels using cautery or ligatures with cotton 4-0. The dissected colon then was divided above the transition zone, which was confirmed via full-thickness biopsy sections and with frozen section confirmation of ganglion cell presence. The authors performed a modified Swenson anastomosis technique, using a seromuscular polyglactin 4-0 separate-stitch suture. No drains were used.
Results: Normal bowel movements were displayed by all patients at the follow-up. All patients underwent a defecogram and anorectal computerized manometry at 3 months after surgery that showed an absence of stenosis and good anorectal sphincter muscle complex function. The incidence of complications in our series was 10%.
Conclusions: During the follow-up period of 29 months, all patients had normal bowel movements and normal anorectal manometric pressure profiles.