Laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through for high imperforate anus: three years' experience.
OBJECTIVE
We describe our three-year experience with the laparoscopically assisted anorectal pullthrough for high imperforate anus using laparoscopic muscle electrostimulation.


METHODS
From March 2001 to January 2004, 7 patients with a diagnosis of high anorectal malformation underwent laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through. The patients, all males aged from 4 to 9 months (mean age, 5.8 months), presented with a rectourethral fistula. The associated malformations noted were sacral malformation, laryngeal stenosis, urethral duplication, multicystic kidney, nonpalpable testis, and esophageal atresia. All patients were treated with a colostomy in the newborn period followed by a delayed laparoscopically assisted anorectal pullthrough. Laparoscopy included stimulation of the puborectal muscle, using a modified Peña electrostimulator introduced through a trocar. All patients underwent a postoperative period of anal dilatation.


RESULTS
In 6 cases the laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through was successful; there was 1 conversion to the open technique, due to strong tension from the colostomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Although longer follow-up to evaluate continence is to come, laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through should be considered for the correction of the high imperforate anus and, according to our experience, it represents the gold standard. It offers the advantage of good visualization of the fistula and the surrounding structures and minimally invasive abdominal and perineal wounds. With the laparoscopic Peña stimulator the direct observation of the contraction of the puborectalis sling allows an evaluation of the functional contractility and an accurate colonic pullthrough in the center of the muscle complex.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy. m.lima@med.unibo.it
Mario
M
Lima
Stefano
S
Tursini
Giovanni
G
Ruggeri
Antonio
A
Aquino
Tommaso
T
Gargano
Lorenzo
L
De Biagi
Abuajila
A
Ahmed
Andrea
A
Gentili
D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors