Anal Retraction Research Articles

Erudition from primary posterior sagittal anorectoplasty for anorectal malformations over two decades.

Perioperative and early post-operative outcomes of Primary Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (P-PSARP) were evaluated. Retrospective analysis of cases who underwent P-PSARP from 2004 to 2019 was done. Perioperative care, management, complications, voluntary bowel movement, soiling and constipation, graded by Krickenbeck criteria were studied. One hundred fifty six patients (134 girls) underwent P-PSARP at median age of 5months (3months to 14years) in girls and 5(1-10) days in 21 boys. One male cloaca was operated at 5months age. Of 20 boys, 5, 8, 4, 3 had rectobulbar urethral fistula, rectoprostatic urethral fistula, bladder neck fistula and male cloaca. Girls had vestibular fistula, rectovaginal fistula, vulval anus, anterior ectopic anus, pouch perineal fistulae and posterior anus with H type fistula in 114, 7, 6, 5, 1 and 1. Complications included wound infection, excoriation, oedema, mucosal prolapse, anal stricture, anal retraction and mortality in 6, 4, 5, 4, 4, 1 and 1, respectively. 35/155(12 neonates) required postoperative dilatations for 5(1-12) months. At follow-up, 96/114(84.2%) had voluntary bowel movements. 46/155 (29.7%) and 9/155 had constipation and soiling. 32:14:0 had grade 1:2:3 constipation, treated with diet (grade 1) and laxatives (grade 2) respectively. 4:3:2 had grade 1:2:3 soiling for initial 3months, treated with bowel management programme. P-PSARP is feasible, subject to proper case selection and good perioperative care, once learning curve is achieved.

Laparoscopic surgical technique to enhance the management of anorectal malformations: 330 cases' experience in a single center.

Laparoscopic-assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP) is considered to benefit the patients with vesico-prostatic fistula. The aim of this study is to present the details of our LAARP technique for improving the short- and long-term outcomes in the patients with high and intermediate types of anorectal malformations (ARMs). 330 patients with high-type (174 cases) and intermediate-type (156 cases) anorectal malformation (aged 8days to 15years) underwent LAARP from 2001 to 2019. LAARP was performed for full mobilization and resection of the dilated rectum, intra-rectal closure of the fistula, visualization, and enlargement of the center of the longitudinal muscle tube (LMT) from pelvic and perineal aspects. LAARP was performed in all patients and no patient was converted to open procedure. The urethral diverticulum was found in three patients (1.02%, 3/294) according to postoperative protocol voiding cystourethrogram but was not associated with any symptoms such as urinary tract infection and dysuria. Rectal prolapse requiring surgical intervention developed in 25 (7.6%) of 330 patients. Anal stricture occurred in three patients and re-do anoplasty was performed 5months after LAARP. Anal retraction occurred in two patients and re-pull-through was conducted at 5 and 6days, respectively, after LAARP. 228 patients who were older than 3years were followed up. The median follow-up period was 5.8years (range 3-15years). 217 patients (95.2%) had voluntary bowel movements; 202 patients (88.6%) were free from soiling or with grade 1 soiling; 30 patients (13.6%) and 25 patients (11.3%) suffered from grade 1 and grade 2 constipation, respectively, while no patient had grade 3 constipation. Our experience demonstrates that the LAARP has advantages on rectal mobilization and resection, intra-rectal fistula closure and accurate tunnel formation in the LMT with minimal trauma. The improvement of the short-term and long-term outcomes after LAARP has been shown not only for high-type ARM but also for intermediate-type ARM.

Anterior sagittal anorectoplasty as a technique for the repair of female anorectal malformations: A twenty two-years-single-center experience

BackgroundAnorectal malformations (ARMs) are major congenital malformations occurring in female children in approximately 1 out of every 4000–5000 births. Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) was introduced for their treatment in early 1980s by Pena and Devries. However, anterior sagittal anorectoplasty (ASARP) was first introduced by Okada as a modification of the previous technique. PurposeThe aim of this study was to report our experience and the long-term follow-up results of 594 female patients with anorectal malformations treated by anterior sagittal anorectoplasty (ASARP) in a single center over 22 years. We chose this approach as the incision is smaller, with minimal cutting of the external sphincter and easier dissection of the vagina and rectum.The type of our study was retrospective study. ResultsThe study included 594 patients; 342 of them were less than 1 year old. About 526 patients had rectovestibular fistula, anterior perineal anus in 55 patients, anocutaneous fistula in 6 patients and rectovaginal fistula in 7 patients. All of these patients had been subjected to ASARP technique which had been done in one stage without proceeding colostomy in about 470 cases and in staged fashion with a protective colostomy in 124 patients. Postoperative follow up revealed that four patients (0.7%) developed anal retraction, 30 patients (5%) developed anal stricture, 20 patients (3.4%) had rectal prolapse and 40 patients (6.7%) developed anterior anal migration. Constipation was observed in 161 patients (27%) by the end of 1st postoperative year reduced to 41 patients (7%) after one year. 474 patients were assessed for continence by Kelly's continence score and 453 patients showed good result, 16 patients showed fair result and about 5 patients had poor continence outcome. ConclusionAnterior sagittal anorectoplasty is a procedure with optimal functional outcome especially at if done at an early age in one stage without preliminary colostomy.

One or Two Stages Procedure for Repair of Rectovestibular Fistula: Which is Safer? (A Single Institution Experience).

Background:Rectovestibular fistula (RVF) is the most common type of anorectal malformations in females. The need for a diverting colostomy during correction of defect has ignited a heated debate. In this study, we reviewed the girls with RVF that had been treated by either one or two stage procedure in the past 10 years in our institution to define whether one stage or two stage procedures is safer and more beneficial for the patients.Materials and Methods:Seventy girls with RVF that had been operated from January 2005 to January 2015 were studied retrospectively. Data were obtained from medical hospital records. The cases were divided into two groups. Group A (46 patients): were operated by two stages technique (simultaneous sigmoid colostomy and anterior sagittal anorectoplasty [ASARP]). Group B (24 patients): were operated by one stage (ASARP without covering colostomy). The short-term outcome as regard wound infection, wound dehiscence, anal stenosis, anal retraction, recurrence of fistula as well as complications of colostomy was reported. The long-term outcome as regard soiling, constipation and voluntary bowel movement was evaluated.Results:The age of patients at the time of surgery ranged from 3 months to 2 years (mean; 9.5 months). In Group A, seven patients (15.2%) developed wound infection, two patients developed wound disruption. One patient developed anterior anal retraction and required redo-operation, anal stenosis was noticed in five (10.9%) patients. Complications from colostomy had occurred in nine patients (19.5%). In Group B, wound infection occurred in ten patients (41.7%). Seven patients (29.2%) developed wound disruption. Anal stenosis occurred in eight patients (33.3%). Five patients required redo-operation because of anal retraction in three patients and recurrence of fistula in the other two patients. Constipation recorded in 15 patients (32.6%) of Group A and in ten patients (41.3%) of Group B. Soiling was reported in six girls (13.04%) of Group A and five girls (20.8%) of Group B.Conclusion:The avoidance of colostomy is not outweighed achieving sound operation and continent child. Two stages correction of RVF is safer and more beneficial than one stage procedure, especially in our locality and for our paediatric surgeons during their learning curve.

Anal retraction sutures as an alternative to Lone Star® retractor.

Anal retraction sutures as an alternative to Lone Star® retractor.

Anal retraction sutures as an alternative to Lone Star®retractor

Anal retraction sutures as an alternative to Lone Star^®retractor

Function after ileal pouch and stapled pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Fourteen patients with ulcerative colitis underwent formation of an S ileal pouch and construction of a stapled pouch-anal anastomosis by a modified technique, which eliminated the use of purse-string sutures. Eleven have had their covering ileostomies closed. Anal manometry performed before and a median of 9 months after ileostomy closure showed significant impairment of internal anal sphincter function. Night evacuation was significantly reduced in the stapled group compared with a similar group of patients who had undergone S ileal pouch formation, mucosal proctectomy and manual transanal anastomosis, but this was the only parameter of function to show a difference. A stapled pouch-anal anastomosis may be superior to the conventional procedure but it still may lead to internal anal sphincter damage which cannot be due to mucosectomy or prolonged anal retraction.

The direct closure of the internal fistula opening without advancement flap for transsphincteric fistulas-in-ano.

The recommended closure techniques for transsphincteric fistulas demonstrate divergent results for postoperative continence and recurrence rates. An incontinence rate of 35 percent and a recurrence rate of up to 54 percent has been reported after transanal advancement techniques. The authors hypothesize that a direct closure of the internal fistula opening without tissue mobilization is easier to facilitate and generally leads to better clinical and functional results. A prospective, observational study between 1995 and 1999 was undertaken in 90 patients with transsphincteric fistulas. A direct closure of the internal fistula opening without a flap was performed in all patients. A three-layer, nonstaggered closure of mucosa, submucosa, internal, and external anal sphincters was performed. The follow-up time periods ranged from one-half to six (median, 2.6) years and included assessment of fistula recurrence and continence using patients' histories, physical examinations, proctoscopy, and continence scores. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test or chi-squared test. Data from 90 patients with a total of 106 operations were analyzed (65 males and 41 females; average age 46 (range, 22-78) years). Sixty-six patients had previous anorectal abscess surgery, and 41 had a previous fistula operation. The mean number of previous fistula operations was 1.7. All patients were continent before surgery. Mean elapsed operative time period was 37 +/- 11 minutes, and the mean anal retraction time was 20 +/- 7 minutes. Suture line dehiscence was the main postoperative complication. It was found to occur between the fourth and tenth postoperative days in 15 patients (14 percent). In 12 of 15 patients (80 percent), the fistula persisted and operative treatment was necessary. In three patients (20 percent), spontaneous closure took place. A recurrent fistula after wound healing was observed in seven patients (6.6 percent). The risk of developing a suture line dehiscence leading to a persistent fistula or a recurrent fistula was 22.5 percent. Ninety-four percent of the patients were continent (continence score 0), 6 percent had a minimal disorder of continence (score 4). A continence level for all patients was determined by the international classification of continence disorders. Direct closure for the treatment of transsphincteric fistulas is a safe and effective approach and achieves a good functional outcome; a small risk of suture line dehiscence, which may lead to a recurrent or persistent fistula, remains.

Abdominal mucosectomy reduces the incidence of soiling and sphincter damage after restorative proctocolectomy and J-pouch.

Thirty-two ileoanal J-pouch procedures have been performed by the author between 1983 and 1986. Two pouches have been excised, one has been defunctioned for diarrhea, and seven patients either have not had their ileostomy closed or have not been followed for more than four months after restoration of intestinal continuity. Of the remaining 22 patients, 12 early operations involved endoanal mucosectomy while in the ten most recent procedures, the rectum and anal mucosa have been excised from the abdomen. Incidence of complications between the methods of mucosal excision were comparable apart from cuff abscess (n = 5) which only occur after endoanal muscosectomy. Functional results were identical apart from the incidence of soiling which occurred in six of 12 patients after endoanal mucosectomy but in only one of ten patients after abdominal mucosectomy. Resting anal canal pressures fell significantly after endoanal mucosectomy (87 to 60cm H20, P less than 0.05) but not after abdominal mucosectomy (82 to 81 cm H20). These differences may be due to the duration and extent of anal retraction, which was 72 minutes after endoanal mucosectomy but only 18 minutes after abdominal mucosectomy. Abdominal mucosectomy appears to cause less sphincter damage and soiling than conventional endoanal excision.