The effect of dilated ganglionic segment on anorectal and urinary functions during 1-stage transanal endorectal pull through for Hirschsprung's disease

Abstract Background/Purpose During a 1-stage transanal endorectal pull through (OS-TERP) for Hirschsprung's disease (HD), dilated ganglionic segment (DGS) may pose a problem during coloanal anastomosis. Apart from the anorectal problems occurring after the HD operations, lower urinary tract problems may also be encountered. The anorectal and lower urinary tract system functions of the patients that underwent OS-TERP in the presence of DGS were evaluated. Method From 2000 to 2005, 15 patients (14 boys and 1 girl) underwent OS-TERP for HD. During the presence of DGS, the coloanal anastomosis of the DGS was completed without any tapering or excision. Hospital and digital video records of all the patients who underwent OS-TERP were evaluated, and the operation time, complications, and follow-up periods of the patients were compared. Standard urodynamic studies were performed after at least 6 months. Bladder capacity; mean bladder capacity ratio; maximum filling pressure; the number of contractions during the filling phase; intraabdominal, intravesical, and detrusor pressures; residual urinary volume; and electromyography activities of the pelvic floor muscles were evaluated. Results Six patients had ganglionic segment of normal caliber, whereas 9 patients had DGS. Duration of the operation was significantly longer in the DGS group. One patient in DGS group experienced a single episode of enterocolitis in the postoperative period. Transient urinary retention occurred in another patient in DGS group. In ganglionic segment of normal caliber group, one patient experienced 2 episodes of enterocolitis in the postoperative period. Urodynamic study of the 7 patients in the DGS group had postvoiding urine volume of less than 20 mL. The detrusor activities of all the patients were found to be normal. None of the patients had developed urinary tract problems during the follow-up period. Conclusion With the coloanal anastomosis technique, we have described that narrowing the DGS to anal caliber step by step without any excision or tapering enables DGS to fit to the anus easily. Although further clinical studies with larger sample sizes are necessary, present study may imply that OS-TERP performed in the presence of a DGS may not increase morbidity and affect anorectal functions. The normal urodynamic study results obtained in this study may imply that OS-TERP procedure may be performed safely in the presence of DGS.