[Constipation in children. Value of anorectal sphincteromyectomy]

Anorectal sphincteromyectomy is a suitable answer to the problem of the chronic constipation in childhood. It took a long time to be recognized beside others methods as biofeedack. This surgical procedure has been described for the first time by B. Duhamel in 1965; we still remained faithful and proud of this idea. We wanted to understand and to explain the basis of the conception of anorectal achalasia. Several works about the fetal development of the anorectal sphincter tried to explain it. A good exposition makes the technique less difficult and the dissection of the internal sphincter easier. We have analysed our 22 recent children. In 21 cases, we noticed a good result. The histological study of the fragment of the myomectomy showed a normal cytology of the smooth muscular tissue, a normal intrinsic innervation and arterial vascularisation. The surgical procedure is efficient because it relieves the functional disorder of the internal anal sphincter. It is a mechanical action; the external sphincter finds again its normal function, or is allowed to be reeducated.