Imperforate anus: an analysis of mortalities during a 25-year period

A careful analysis of 53 deaths in a series of 284 patients suggests the following points are important in reducing risk: 1. Imperforate anus is a complicated lesion which should only be done by experienced surgeons in a large-volume pediatric surgical center in order to avoid the wrong choice of procedure. 2. A careful colostomy technique is essential to avoid herniation, prolapse, evisceration or obstruction. 3. Hyperchloremic acidosis from a large rectourinary fistula into the distal blind pouch of a colostomized high type lesion must be watched for. 4. The mucocutaneous junction (natural or surgical) must be kept free from stenosis to avoid fecalomas or enterocolitis-sepsis sequelae. 5. Neonatal pullthrough should be avoided as they carry an increased risk, make handling of fistulas difficult, and may lead to the placement of the bowel outside of the continence muscles.