Early outcome of transanal endorectal pull-through with a short muscle cuff during the neonatal period

Transanal pull-through has been advocated recently for classic Hirschsprung's disease. The procedure leaves no scars, is associated with less postoperative pain and discomfort, and shortens hospital stay. Long-term functional outcome of patients having transanal pull-through is unclear, but short-term function is reported to be very similar to that after open or laparoscopic procedures. One-stage neonatal repair of Hirschsprung's disease has been suggested to be associated with less cost and demand of resources without jeopardizing functional outcome. The aim of this study was to ascertain the feasibility and safety of transanal pull-through in the neonatal period.

Case notes of 40 consecutive patients who had undergone transanal endorectal pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease between January 2000 and February 2003 were reviewed. The patients were divided in to 3 groups: patients with neonatal primary pull-through (group I, 15 patients), patients operated on beyond the neonatal period (group II, 11 patients), and patients with a previous colostomy (group III, 14 patients). All colostomies except one were taken down and pulled through concomitantly with the transanal procedure. The case notes were evaluated for hospital stay, time to full oral feedings, operative and postoperative complications, need for postoperative dilatations, and occurrence of postoperative enterocolitis.

There was no difference in median hospital stay (group I, 5 days; group II, 4; group III, 5) and median time to full oral feedings (group I, 4 days; group II, 2; group III, 3) between groups. Two patients (group III) had immediate postoperative prolapse of the pulled-through colon that was reduced without further sequels; 1 (group III) had infection of the stoma closure wound. Perianal skin rash that usually resolved within 6 weeks occurred more often in neonatal patients (group I, 10 of 15; group II: 4 of 11; group III: 8 of 14). Anastomotic dilatation regimen was required more often in neonatal cases (group I, 6 of 15; group II, 1 of 11; group III, 2 of 14). Enterocolitis requiring hospital care occurred in 2 patients (group I), 5 further patients (group II, 1; group III, 4) were treated as outpatients for symptoms suggesting mild enterocolitis or bacterial overgrowth. The median follow-up was 6 months.

Transanal endorectal pull-through in neonatal patients is as feasible and safe as in older children or in those with a levelling colostomy. However, temporary postoperative skin rash occurs more frequently in neonatal patients, and postoperative dilatations are required more often than in older children.