Y. Gao et al., Primary transanal rectosigmoidectomy for Hirschsprung's disease: Preliminary results in the initial 33 cases, J PED SURG, 36(12), 2001, pp. 1816-1819
Purpose: The authors describe their newly developed technique-primary trans
anal rectosigmoidectomy for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) and its preliminary
results in neonates and infants,
Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients (26 boys) with biopsy-proven rect
osigmoid HID, aged 18 days to 4 years, underwent this new procedure. Rectal
mucosectomy started 1 to 1.5 cm posteriorly and 2 to 3 cm anteriorly proxi
mal to the dentate line. The rectal muscular sleeve below the peritoneal re
flection was resected to the level of the striated muscle complex, leaving
a shorter muscular cuff, into which a partial internal sphincterotomy was m
ade posteriorly. An oblique anastomosis was constructed between the pull-th
rough ganglionic colon and the anus canal.
Results: The mean time for the operation was 160 minutes, and the average l
ength of bowel resected was 29.5 cm (range, 12.5 to 41 cm). Two children (6
.06%, 2 of 33) had 2 to 5 episodes of postoperative enterocolitis (EC). One
was cured by rectal irrigation and dilation, and the another by Lynn's mye
ctomy, Eighty-four percent of patients had 1 to 6 bowel movements per day d
uring a 6- to 18-month follow-up period.
Conclusions: Primary transanal rectosigmoidectomy for HD is logical and ass
ociated with excellent early results. A longterm follow-up is required to d
etermine bowel functions. Copyright (C) 2001 by WB. Saunders Company.