title: Bowel symptoms in children with anorectal malformation - a follow-up with a gender and age perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gender specific outcome for children with anorectal malformations (ARM) is rarely reported although it is important for medical care and in parent counseling.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess bowel function according to the Krickenbeck system in relation to ARM-subtype, gender and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children born with ARM in 1998-2008 and referred to two centers in two different countries were followed up. The bowel function in 50 girls and 71 boys, median age 8 years, was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among those with a perineal fistula, incontinence occurred in 42% of the females and in 10% of the males (p=0.005) whereas constipation occurred in 62% of the females and 35% of the males (p<0.001). No bowel symptoms differed between the females with perineal and vestibular fistulas (p>0.3 for every symptom). Sacral malformations were associated with incontinence only in males with rectourethral fistulas. Constipation among the males differed between the age groups: 58% versus 26% (p=0.013). Bowel symptoms did not change with age among the females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender differences in outcome for children with ARM must be considered. Males with perineal fistulas had less incontinence and constipation than the females with perineal fistulas. The females with perineal and vestibular fistulas had similar outcomes.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Skåne University Hospital Lund and the Institution of Clinical Research, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: pernilla.stenstrom@med.lu.se.
authors: Pernilla
authors: P
authors: Stenström
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Skåne University Hospital Lund and the Institution of Clinical Research, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: christina.clementsonkockum@skane.se.
authors: Christina Clementson
authors: CC
authors: Kockum
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital and Oslo University, Norway. Electronic address: ragnhild.emblem@oslo-universitetssykehus.no.
authors: Ragnhild
authors: R
authors: Emblem
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Skåne University Hospital Lund and the Institution of Clinical Research, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: einar.arnbjornsson@telia.com.
authors: Einar
authors: E
authors: Arnbjörnsson
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital and Oslo University, Norway. Electronic address: kristin.bjornland@oslo-universitetssykehus.no.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Bjørnland
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000601:surgery; D000367:Age Factors; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D012007:Rectum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014624:Vaginal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Age; Anorectal malformation; Fecal incontinence; Gender; Krickenbeck; Sacral malformation