Surgical methods for anorectal malformations from Rehbein to Peña--critical assessment of score systems and proposal for a new classification.

In this review article the surgical techniques of Rehbein, Romualdi, Kiesewetter, and Peña/De Vries are compared and corresponding surgical steps are pointed out. Peña/De Vries have adopted many surgical steps from Stephens and further standardized this technique. The results of recent postoperative examinations are presented with regard to the surgical methods of Stephens, Rehbein, Romualdi, Kiesewetter, and Peña. In that connection, the paper makes it clear that comparison of postoperative studies is not possible because the authors evaluate too small numbers of cases, use different scoring systems, do not indicate individual steps of their surgical techniques and do not consider the height of the atresias. The reference to the type of fistula that can be found in recent literature unfortunately does not provide a common basis for comparative studies either. Therefore, the paper suggests complete abandonment of scoring systems and classification of postoperative continence results instead according to the therapy that has to be applied. In addition, it again stresses the importance and necessity of adhering to the Wingspread classification.

Pathophysiology of chronic constipation in anorectal malformations. Long-term results and preliminary anatomical investigations.

Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty provides an optimal access to reconstruct the muscle complex in anorectal malformations. It gives much better results than the abdominoperineal pullthrough procedures performed before 1984. However, severe chronic constipation occurs postoperatively in about 10 % of the patients, which can only be treated by washouts. Clinical investigations of 578 patients treated from 1962 to 1984 and from 1985 to 1997 are presented here and both groups are compared to each other. In addition, a new continence score with special regard to chronic constipation and overflow incontinence was used to follow up 133 patients of the second group. The score distinguishes between children above and below the age of 3 years. To study the underlying reasons of severe chronic constipation in children with anorectal malformations, macro- and microanatomical investigations on 4 normal newborns, 3 neonatal piglets with imperforate anus and 25 rectal biopsies from the caecum were performed. The following reasons have been found to be probably responsible for postoperative constipation and overflow incontinence: 1. Malformations of the smooth and striated muscle fibres or connective tissue of the caecum; 2. Malformations of the intramural nerve plexus such as aganglionosis, hypoganglionosis or IND; 3. Malformations and/or iatrogenic lesions of the extramural nerve supply which runs anterior to the rectum and in front of the fascia of Denonvilliers, which can hardly be identified in neonates with imperforate anus. Therefore iatrogenic bladder injuries may occur after PSARP after extended mobilisation of the caecum. The macro- and microanatomical situation in the piglet with imperforate anus is totally different from the human newborn.

A new polyurethane anal plug in the treatment of incontinence after anal atresia repair.

UNLABELLED: 38 totally or partially incontinent patients following imperforate anus repair (age 6-15 years) tested a new polyurethane (PU) anal plug against another, widely used anal plug (PVA) in a randomized crossover trial. Plugs were tested 3 weeks each, data concerning bowel habits, handling and plug-related problems were collected by questionnaire before trial, at time of product change and after trial. RESULTS: 15 of 38 patients did not complete the protocol, among them 6 with anal canal diameters too small for the smallest plug. During plug use, patients experienced enhanced awareness of repletion and urge. Stool consistence did not change in 82% of patients. There were no changes in children constipated prior to study (n = 8/23). 12,123 children were absolutely clean during use of either plug. 15 patients (68%) using the PU plug and 10 (45%) using the PVA plug felt secure from soiling during plug use. 74% of patients preferred the PU plug. Painful plug insertion, a feeling of pressure inside the anal canal and painful plug removal were reported with both plugs, but were less frequent with the PU plug. CONCLUSION: Anal plugs, regardless of their make, offer absolute cleanliness for periods of several hours to 66% of our incontinent patients. The PU plug (Conveen, Coloplast) is preferred by the patients and offers greater security than the PVA plug.

Innervation patterns of the rectal pouch and fistula in anorectal malformations: a preliminary report.

The innervation patterns of the rectal pouch and fistula of 52 children with anorectal malformations were investigated. Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty was used for intermediate and high anomalies; for the latter it was combined with an abdominal approach. Perineoproctoplasty was performed for low anomalies. The specimens were investigated by acetylcholinesterase staining, lactate dehydrogenase, and succinyldehydrogenase reaction. They consisted of fistula material only in 23 patients and of parts of the rectal pouch in 29. Fourty-four patients (84.6%) had follow-up, and information of bowel movements and continence was obtained after a mean of 3.3 years. Abnormal innervation patterns were found in 96% of the specimens. All fistulas were found to be aganglionic, including the adjacent part of the rectum involving the internal sphincter equivalent. Classical aganglionosis was found in 31% of the rectal pouch specimens, hypoganglionosis in 38%, neuronal intestinal dysplasia (NID) type B in 14%, and dysganglionosis in 10%. All patients with severe constipation or soiling at the time of follow-up had some histopathological correlation. Of the 25 patients for whom the specimens had consisted of rectal pouch material, nine (31%) had severe constipation. All four patients with a low-type malformation who had follow-up and pathological innervation patterns in the rectal pouch suffered from severe constipation; this was true of only five of the 19 children with intermediate or high malformations (P < .05). However, numerous pathological innervation patterns had been identified in patients who had normal bowel function at the time of follow-up. It is concluded that partial denervation of the rectum may not be the only cause in the pathogenesis of constipation after posterior sagittal anorectoplasty and perineoproctoplasty. The high frequency of neuronal intestinal malformations in the rectal pouch may be related to the higher frequency of bowel disturbances in patients with low malformations, in whom the resection was less radical. However, the clinical course is not necessarily related to specific histopathological findings. In the authors' opinion, the recommendation to use the distal rectal pouch and parts of the fistula in the reconstruction of anorectal malformations should be reconsidered.

Results in the treatment of anorectal malformations with special regard to the histology of the rectal pouch.

The results of surgery for anorectal malformation (ARM) in 536 children treated between 1962 and 1993 are presented. Before 1985, patients underwent an abdominoperineal pullthrough for high and intermediate type of ARM, whereas cut-back procedures or perineoproctoplasty were performed in low type. Since 1985, we have changed our policy and performed a modified posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) for intermediate type of ARM, eventually combined with an abdominal mobilization for high type. Perineoproctoplasty was reserved for low type of ARM. Data of 143 patients of Group 1 and 85 patients of Group 2 were available for follow-up. Continence was compared using a clinical score. Good or fair continence was found in 82% of patients operated on before 1985 (low type 85% good, 15% fair, intermediate type 17% good, 50% fair, high type 12% good, 37% fair), comparing to 93% in children treated after 1985 according to the new regimen (low type 88% good, 6% fair, intermediate type 59% good, 35% fair, high type 43% good, 47% fair). Liquid stools and inability to retain bowel contents were the main problem in the older series, whereas incontinence could often be attributed to constipation with overflow incontinence in the recently treated group of patients. Analysis of the innervation of fistula and distal rectal pouch in a prospective study comprising 40 of our most recent patients showed normal innervation in only 5% of patients, whereas 66% had neuronal intestinal malformations (NIM) including aganglionosis, NID and hypoganglionosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[What is the value of anorectal manometry today?]. / Welchen Stellenwert besitzt heute die anorektale Manometrie?

Since it was first introduced into clinical investigations in 1960 by M. Schuster, anorectal electromanometry has become one of the most-important methods to evaluate anorectal continence. Electromanometry now is a wide-spread, safe and simple screening method to analyze chronic constipation and to control the results of proctologic surgery. Its most important parameters are the anorectal pressure profile, the squeezing pressure profile, the adaptation reaction, the internal sphincter relaxation, and the rectal sphincteric reflex to the external anal sphincter. Wherever proctology is performed, electromanometry and electromyography of the external sphincter muscle should be done.

[Coarctation of the abdominal aorta. Experiences with transluminal angioplasty]. / Koarktation der abdominellen Aorta. Erfahrungen mit der transluminalen Angioplastik.

Balloon dilatation was performed transfemorally in three patients suffering from coarctation of the abdominal aorta. In two cases the pressure gradient could be reduced markedly from 85 to 55 and from 72 to 32 mm Hg, respectively. At follow-up angiography 3 months later the gradient was reduced further to 12 and 5 mm Hg, respectively. One women patient who had previously been handicapped by claudication intermittens, was free from complaints after balloon dilatation, whereas the other women patient with suprarenal stenosis of the aorta and renal hypertension was normotensive subsequent to balloon dilatation. In the third (male) patient who had already been operated on earlier because of stenosis of the aortic isthmus, dilatation was unsuccessful even if a very high balloon pressure was applied. These experiences support the view--in agreement with other authors--that balloon dilatation in coarctation of the abdominal aorta is a method of low invasiveness that should be attempted before surgery is performed.

[Transluminal angioplasty of aortic isthmus stenosis in juveniles and adults]. / Transluminale Angioplastik der Aortenisthmusstenose bei Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen.

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty of coarctation of the aorta was performed on eleven patients, aged 5-35 years (mean 25 years). Three patients had had surgical resection of the coarctation previously. There were no complications. The balloons used had a diameter up to 20 mm and were inflated with pressures of 3-5 bar for 10-60 sec. In two of the preoperated patients dilatation did not succeed. It was successful in the remaining nine. In these patients the gradient was reduced from a mean of 58 +/- 17 to 18 +/- 11 mm Hg, the stenosis diameter being increased from 4.5 +/- 2.4 to 11.9 +/- 5.1 mm. In five of six patients, angiography three or twelve months postoperatively demonstrated persisting dilatation. It is concluded that this procedure can be successfully used in both juveniles and adults, not only in children.