Long-term functional outcome and quality of life in patients with high imperforate anus.
OBJECTIVE
Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are associated with a large number of functional sequale that may affect a child's long-term quality of life (QOL). The purposes of this study were to better quantify patient functional stooling outcome and to identify how these outcomes related to the QOL in patients with high imperforate anus.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients from 2 children's hospitals underwent scoring of stooling after 4 years of life. Scoring consisted of a 13-item questionnaire to assess long-term stooling habits (score range: 0-30, worst to best). These results were then correlated with a QOL survey as judged by a parent or guardian.


RESULTS
Mean (SD) age at survey was 6.5 (1.6) years. Comparison of QOL and clinical scoring showed no signficant difference between the 2 institutions (P > .05). There was a direct correlation between the QOL and stooling score (Pearson r(2) = 0.827; beta coefficient = 24.7, P < .001). Interestingly, functional stooling scores worsened with increasing age (Pearson r(2) = 0.318, P = .02). Patients with associated congenital anomalies had a high rate of poor QOL (44% in poor range; P = .001). Stooling scores decreased significantly with increasing severity/complexity of the ARM (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
A large number of children experience functional stooling problems, and these were directly associated with poor QOL. In contrast to previous perceptions, our study showed that stooling patterns are perceived to worsen with age. This suggests that children with ARMs need long-term follow-up and counseling.
Hashish
Mohamed S
MS
Section of Pediatric Surgery, Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Dawoud
Hamada H
HH
Hirschl
Ronald B
RB
Bruch
Steven W
SW
El Batarny
Akram M
AM
Mychaliska
George B
GB
Drongowski
Robert A
RA
Ehrlich
Peter F
PF
Hassaballa
Sayed Z
SZ
El-Dosuky
Nagi I
NI
Teitelbaum
Daniel H
DH
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000453:epidemiology; D000367:Age Factors; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012086:Reoperation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology