[Postoperative complications in Hirschsprung's disease (author's transl)]

Early complications of Hirschsprung's disease are anastomosis leakage, mucosal ulcers in the region of the anastomosis, early ileus and early stenosis. On the basis of these criteria, we analysed 85 cases of children who underwent resection of the aganglionic segment in the years from 1969-1978 in the paediatric surgical units of the University Clinics in Mainz and Göteborg. Of 19 cases, 2 showed anastomosis leakage, 9 anastomotic ulcers, 5 early ileus, 2 early stenosis, 7 general disturbances independent from Hirschsprung's disease. Extensive aganglionosis did not produce problems in the immediate postoperative period, with the exception of the risk of secondary healing of the wound. Possible influencing factors could be: age and general condition of the child at the time of operation, operative method, experience of the operator and prophylactic administration of antibiotics.