Imperforate anus.

Abstract

Sucessful treatment of the child with imperforate anus yields an individual with satisfactory continence and a healthy urinary tract. These goals are achieved by accurate evaluation of the newborn, optimal technical results, and conscientious follow-up. The infant born with one of these malformations frequently has a serious associated anomaly which also requires early specific diagnosis and management. When the bowel has passed through the puborectalis in utero, the deformity can often be definitively treated in the neonate by dilations or anoplasty. However, if a urinary or high vaginal fistula is present, or if the anomaly is of the supralevator type, definitive surgery is best postponed some months and the neonate given a colostomy. We have found the sacroabdominoperitoneal approach to be the most satisfactory pullthrough procedure for the supralevator lesion. The children with high, supralevator anomalies have higher mortality rates and, in one out of four cases, have suboptimal fecal continence. They require the utmost in technical skill and continuing care if they are to lives free of social stigma. The mortality rate in all other types is low and the functional continence uniformly acceptable.