Laparoscopic-assisted pull-through operation for Hirschsprung's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In the last two decades, laparoscopic-assisted pull-through (LAPT) has gained much popularity in the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the long-term outcome of patients treated laparoscopically.

A systematic literature-based search for relevant cohorts was performed using the terms "Hirschsprung's disease and Laparoscopy", "Laparoscopic-assisted pull-through outcome", "Laparoscopic-assisted Soave pull-through" "Laparoscopic-assisted Swenson pull-through" and Laparoscopic-assisted Duhamel pull-through. The relevant cohorts of laparoscopic operated HD were systematically searched for outcome regarding continence, constipation, secondary surgery related to the laparoscopic approach and enterocolitis. Pooled incidence rates and odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using standardized statistical methodology.

Sixteen studies met defined inclusion criteria, reporting a total of 820 patients. All studies were retrospective case series, with variability in outcome assessment quality and length of follow-up. The median cohort size consisted of 28 patients (range 15-218). In the long-term follow-up, 97 patients (11.14 %) experienced constipation (OR 0.06, 95 % CI 0.05-0.08, p < 0.00001), 53 (6.46 %) incontinence/soiling (OR 0.01 95 % CI 0.01-0.01, p < 0.00001), 75 (9.14 %) recurrent enterocolitis (OR 0.02 95 % CI 0.01-0.02, p < 0.00001) and 69 (8.4 %) developed complications requiring secondary surgery (OR 0.01 95 % CI 0.01-0.02, p < 0.00001). Overall events in long-term follow-up occurred in 225 (27.5 %) patients (OR 0.24 95 % CI 0.20-0.30, p < 0.00001).

This meta-analysis shows that nearly one-third of the patients continue to have long-term bowel problems, such as constipation, soiling and recurrent enterocolitis following LAPT. Many patients treated by LAPT require secondary surgery. Large randomized studies with long-term follow-up are necessary to determine the difference in outcome between LAPT and completely transanal pull-through operation.