Transanal Versus Open Endorectal Pull-Through for Hirschsprung's Disease

Abstract Purpose: Transanal endorectal resection and pull-through technique (TERPT) for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) was described in 1998. It offers the advantages of avoiding laparotomy, laparoscopy, scars, abdominal contamination, and adhesions. The authors compared TERPT with 2 open standard endorectal pull-through approaches. Methods: Twenty-eight HD patients operated on by endorectal pull-through were compared in 3 groups. Group I had 10 patients with preliminary colostomy approached by laparotomy; group II, 8 by laparotomy; and group III, 10 patients treated by TERPT. Age, operating time and bleeding, complications, follow-up, and functional results were analyzed. Mean, standard deviation, and median were calculated. Groups were compared by 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Age and length of follow-up were not statistically different ( P =.12 and.07, respectively). Operating time and bleeding were less in group III ( P =.03 for both). An intestinal obstruction secondary to adhesions and a subhepatic abscess occurred in group I and II, respectively. Minimal complications occurred in group III. Good functional results were obtained in 80% to 90% of the patients in all groups. Conclusion: TERPT minimizes blood loss in this study, was expeditious, uncomplicated, and as effective as the open standard techniques. J Pediatr Surg 35:1630-1632. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.