title: Continence in patients who undergo posterior rectal flap anorectoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors report the postoperative follow-up results of patients who underwent posterior rectal flap anorectoplasty (PRFA), with emphasis in fecal continence. Variables considered on each patient were sex, presence of fistula, location of the fistula, severity of the defect during the correction, sacral condition, dysraphism, and age at surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Continence was rated using the Peña method and defecogram. The authors studied 20 patients (17 boys and three girls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperatively, normal continence was found in 18 patients. Of the two remaining (boys), one had grade II spotting (sacrum agenesia and uretrobulbar fistula) and the other had grade II staining; this patient had the most severe malformation requiring an abdominoperineal approach. All of the defecograms showed complete emptying of the rectum. No recurrent fistulas occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The posterior rectal flap anorectoplasty is a new technique that takes into consideration all known factors that contribute to continence. This initial report confirms that this technique results in excellent continence for patients with imperforate anus.
authors.affiliation: Division de Cirugía Pediátrica, Hospital del Niño Dr Rodolfo Nieto Padrón Villahermosa, Tabasco, México.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montalvo-Marin
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: del Campo
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Solís
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Diaz-Lira
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005242:Fecal Incontinence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps