title: Critical analysis of the operative treatment of Hirschsprung's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To critically analyze complications and long-term results of the operative treatment of Hirschsprung's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of patients with Hirschsprung's disease were reviewed retrospectively. Follow-up was obtained using a standardized telephone questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Major pediatric referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two infants and children (68 boys, 14 girls) were treated for Hirschsprung's disease during a 20-year period (1975 to 1994). The age at diagnosis was younger than 30 days in 47 neonates (57%), 30 days to 1 year in 22 infants (27%), and older than 1 year in 13 children (16%). Aganglionosis was limited to the rectosigmoid region in 66 patients (81%). Fifty-five Soave (endorectal) and 27 Duhamel (retrorectal) primary pull-through operations were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postoperative complications, reoperations, hospitalization, and current bowel habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen children (67%) undergoing the Duhamel operation recovered uneventfully compared with 33 children (60%) undergoing the Soave operation. The complications following the Duhamel operation included enterocolitis in five cases (19%), rectal achalasia in four cases (15%), and persistent rectal septum in two cases (7%). Additional operations, which included myomectomy, rectal septum division, diverting enterostomy, and sphincterotomy, were required in seven patients (26%). Only one patient required more than one reoperation. In contrast, complications following the Soave operation included enterocolitis in 15 cases (27%), rectal stenosis in 12 (22%), anastomotic leak in four (7%), late perirectal fistula in three (5%), rectal prolapse in one (2%), and recurrent severe constipation in one (2%). Sixteen patients (29%) required additional operations, including diverting enterostomy, myomectomy, redo pull-through, sphincterotomy, fistulectomy, and revision of rectal prolapse. In this group nearly two reoperative procedures per patient were required. Telephone follow-up (mean, 89.3 months) after pull-through operations in 61 patients (74%) showed a mean of 2.8 stools per day, with 13 patients (21%) requiring daily medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common operations (Soave and Duhamel) for Hirschsprung's disease result in an uneventful recovery in only 60% to 67% of patients. Although both Soave and Duhamel pull-through operations have nearly identical reoperation rates (26% vs 29%), complications after Soave pull-through operations often require multiple, more extensive procedures. Short-term total continence rates for both procedures are less than 50%, however, 100% became continent by 15 years after the pull-through procedure. Further refinement in operative technique and close follow-up are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Louis University School of Medicine, Mo, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fortuna
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tracy
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silen
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Cradock
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome