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 5 months (3 months to 14 years) in girls and 5(1–10) days in 21 boys. One male cloaca was operated at 5 months 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 3 months, treated with bowel management programme.

P-PSARP is feasible, subject to proper case selection and good perioperative care, once learning curve is achieved.