Management of Hirschsprung's disease with reference to one-stage pull-through without colostomy

The authors evaluated the safety and benefits of 1-stage pull-through in comparison with staged repair of Hirschsprung's disease under circumstances prevailing in a developing country.

Forty-nine patients were treated for Hirschsprung's disease during a 7-year period between January 1991 and March 1998 at our institution, which is a tertiary referral center. Nine patients were excluded from the study, and the medical records of the remaining 40 patients were reviewed.

Eighteen patients including 7 neonates underwent 1-stage pull-through, and 22 patients underwent staged correction. There was no mortality for patients undergoing one-stage treatment, but there was 1 death caused by anastamotic leak after a 2-stage repair. There was no substantial difference in the incidence of complications (38.8% v 45.45%) and the need for additional surgical procedures (33.5% v 45.45%) between the 2 groups. Seventy-one percent after 1-stage treatment and 80% after staged treatment had a satisfactory functional result, and the incidence of incontinence was 14% and 10%, respectively. Overall, the incidence of postoperative enterocolitis was low (7.5%).

One-stage correction of Hirschsprung's disease is a safe procedure in all age groups. It offers economical and social advantages to families in developing countries. Benefits of 1-stage treatment include avoidance of multiple operations, elimination of complications associated with a colostomy, shorter duration of hospital stay, and completion of treatment at an earlier age. It is advisable to continue postoperative anal dilatation for a minimum period of 6 months to 1 year to reduce the incidence of enterocolitis.