Laparoscopic-assisted endorectal pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease. A retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is a congenital condition characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal bowel.
• Surgical correction is necessary to restore bowel function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the laparoscopic-assisted transanal-endorectal pull-through (LATEP) procedure for treating Hirschsprung's disease.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 22 children with HD who underwent LATEP between May 2006 and May 2013.
• Evaluation of operative time, blood loss, recovery of gastrointestinal function, hospital stay, complications, and long-term defecation function.

Main Results:

• Successful completion of LATEP in all 22 patients without conversion to open surgery.
• Mean operative time: 160.4 minutes; mean blood loss: 20-50 ml.
• Mean gastrointestinal recovery: 22 hours; mean hospital stay: 8 days. All patients achieved normal defecation without complications at 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic-assisted transanal-endorectal pull-through is a safe and feasible surgical technique for Hirschsprung's disease.
• The procedure demonstrates excellent short-term and functional outcomes in pediatric patients.