Evolution of the technique in the transanal pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease: effect on outcome

The transanal pull-through has become the standard operation for Hirschsprung's disease in many pediatric surgical centers. Over the past 8 years, we have modified our technique by leaving a short-rather than a long-rectal cuff and by doing routine intraabdominal colonic biopsies through an umbilical incision before beginning the anal dissection. The aim of this study was to determine if these modifications have changed the outcome for children undergoing this operation.

A retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent transanal pull-through by a single surgeon between 1997 and 2005 was conducted.

There were 23 children who had a long cuff (10-15 cm) and 22 who had a short cuff (<2 cm). The short cuff group tended to be younger (25 +/- 23 vs 139 +/- 67 days; P < .05) and smaller (3.5 +/- 0.7 vs 6.0 +/- 2.7 kg; P < .05) at the time of surgery. The operating time was shorter (167 vs 186 minutes; P = .05) in the short cuff group. Outcomes were improved in the short cuff group, as evidenced by decreased hospital stay (1.9 +/- 0.6 vs 2.7 +/- 0.9; P < .05), decreased incidence of enterocolitis (9% vs 30%; P = .1), and lower incidence of narrowing requiring daily dilatations (5% vs 30%; P < .05). Preliminary colonic biopsy was performed on 18 of the 45 patients. This had no significant effect on narcotic use (66% vs 70%; P = .8) and did not increase operating time (174 +/- 31 vs 179 +/- 34 minutes; P = .6). Hospital stay was shorter in the umbilical biopsy group (1.9 +/- 0.6 vs 2.6 +/- 0.9 days; P = .006).

Results of the transanal pull-through have improved likely as a result of a combination of experience and use of a shorter rectal muscular cuff. The use of a preliminary colonic biopsy through an umbilical incision has not increased postoperative pain, prolonged operative time, or lengthened hospital stay.