Improving continence by reoperation

: Between 1969 and 1988, 191 children underwent operations for anorectal anomalies in the Pediatric Surgical Department of Mainz University Hospital. Ninety-six had deep and 84 had intermediate or high malformations; the type was unknown in 11. Of these patients 53 had impaired continence and 8 still have a protective colostoma. 37 of the remaining 45 children had check-ups and reoperations (5 were deep types). After reoperation there was full continence in 14 patients, partial continence in 11, persisting incontinence in 11 and one case could not be assessed. Our results recommend reoperation using modern surgical methods of patients with continence.