Clinical PaperSingle-stage transanal endorectal pull-through procedure for correction of Hirschsprung disease in neonates and nonneonates: A multicenter study

PurposeThe outcomes of single-stage transanal endorectal pull-through (SSTEPT) for Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) in young patients are favorable; however, reports have shown that diagnosis and surgery at young ages increase the risk for postoperative enterocolitis and slows postoperative recovery. The present study was primarily designed to evaluate the outcomes of SSTEPT in a multi-institutional cohort of neonates and nonneonates with HSCR.MethodsBetween August 2005 and May 2012, a total of 650 children with HSCR were divided into the following two groups: group A (neonatal group, operative age < 28 days [n = 186]); and group B (nonneonatal group, operative age > 28 days [n = 464]). The short-term outcomes were postoperative enterocolitis, perianal excoriation, and anastomotic stricture and leakage rates. The midterm outcomes were incomplete continence and constipation rates based on multi-institutional chart review. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square (χ2) tests.ResultsFollow-up was completed in 112 neonates and 303 nonneonates. Short-term outcomes indicated a higher incidence of perianal excoriation (27.6% vs. 6.6%, χ2 = 33.70, p < 0.05), anastomotic strictures (14.3% vs. 6.0%, χ2 = 27.18, p < 0.05), anastomotic leakage (8.0% vs. 1.7%, χ2 = 8.36, p < 0.05), and postoperative enterocolitis (40.2% vs. 10.2%, χ2 = 49.05, p < 0.05) in group A compared to group B. Midterm outcomes indicated a higher incidence of incomplete continence (35.7% vs. 14.9%, χ2 = 21.85, p < 0.05) in group A compared to group B.ConclusionPerforming single-stage transanal endorectal pull-through in the nonneonatal period may be more appropriate than the neonatal period. There were higher rates of perianal excoriation, anastomotic strictures and leakage, postoperative enterocolitis, and incomplete continence postoperatively in neonates than nonneonates.