Fecal Incontinence after Posterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty – Follow up of 2 years

After an anorectal malformation (ARM) is repaired, the goal is fecal continence of the patient. Toilet training is not complete in children below 4 years of age. Manometric and radiological studies need cooperation of the child, and are therefore of little value during the critical preschool years. In this present study, we used only clinical criteria to assess the child for constipation and incontinence after definitive operation. We included all patients of ARM wef 01 April 1998 to 31 March 2000. Only 2 children had crossed 4 years of age at the time of this assessment and therefore it was not possible to assess total continence postoperatively. We found that the incidence of incontinence was less in low anomalies and more in high or intermediate anomalies, while the incidence of constipation was higher in low anomalies and less in high and intermediate anomalies. 31% of all patients born with anorectal malformations and subjected to posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) approach were totally continent, 38% suffered with soiling of faeces while 31% had problems of constipation. The higher incidence of constipation as well as incontinence in our study is because of a short follow-up and secondly, these problems are known to improve with passage of time. The purpose of this article is to highlight the problems of bowel control even after the definitive operation and still much more is required to improve the quality of life of these unfortunate children.