Comparative study between one-stage versus three-stage repair of anorectal malformation with recto-vestibular fistula

Abstract

BackgroundThis is a retrospective comparative study that aimed to compare the short-term and intermediate-term outcomes of the one-stage and three-stage repair in the treatment of female neonates with a recto-vestibular fistula. Female patients who were presented with recto-vestibular fistula between 2017 and 2020 have been included in the study, and they were divided into two groups. Group A is the group of patients that underwent one-stage repair, and Group B is the group of patients that underwent three-stage repair. Short- and intermediate-term outcomes were recorded in both groups and the results were compared.ResultsThirty-six female infants with recto-vestibular fistula were included in our study divided into two groups. Group A included 20 cases for whom we performed one-stage posterior sagittal anorectoplasty, and Group B also included 16 cases for whom the three-stage repair was done. The results showed that the three-stage repair had lower hospital stay (8 days) than the one-stage repair (15 days), and the three-stage repair has lower rates of wound infection, wound dehiscence, and recurrence than the one-stage repair.ConclusionThe three-stage repair of anorectal malformations in females with recto-vestibular fistula is a safer technique, has lower rates of complications, and achieves comparable functional results to the one-stage repair.