Patient's outcome after definitive surgery using krickenbeck continence score in anorectal malformation.

INTRODUCTION

Anorectal malformations (ARM) are a common type of congenital anomaly seen in pediatric surgery, with an approximate incidence ranging from 1 in 2,000 to 5,000 live births. The main aim of neonatal care in patients with ARM is to ensure that patients achieve optimal functionality after definitive surgery. The Krickenbeck continence score is used to assess the outcomes of ARM patients. So, this study aimed to evaluate patient outcomes after definitive surgery in Arifin Achmad General Hospital.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional retrospective study utilizing electronic medical records of patients with ARM who had undergone a definitive surgery procedure at Arifin Achmad General Hospital, Indonesia, from 2019 to 2022.

RESULTS

In this study, twenty-six patients with ARM were identified, including 12 males and 14 females. Approximately 76.9% of the patients had normal birth weight. The study found that 61.5% of the patients had ARM without fistula, 15.4% had ARM with rectourethral and perineal fistula, 3.8% had ARM with vestibular fistula, and 3.8% had ARM with cloaca. According to the Krickenbeck continence score, 61.5% of the patients achieved Voluntary Bowel Movement (VBM), while 11.5% experienced soiling and 7.7% experienced constipation. It was observed that normal birth weight patients had finer VBM compared to those with low birth weight (P <0.001), and male patients had finer VBM than females (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

The results of ARM patients for functional outcomes at our hospital are generally positive. More than half of the children exhibit voluntary bowel movements (VBM), and only a little experience soiling and constipation. The number of VBM may be linked to the child's birth weight and gender.