[Rectosigmoidectomy and end to end coloanal anastomosis with mechanical stapler for treatement of Hirschsprung disease].

UNLABELLED: The experience of the Pediatric Surgical Service of the Materno Infantil University Hospital from Málaga on surgical treatment of the Hirschsprung disease by means of a modified technique of Swenson and Rehbein operations is presented.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Between 1992 and 2001 25 patients were operated of a rectosigmoidectomy. Of them, 23 were diagnosed of Hirschsprung's disease, one suffered a rectal angiodisplasia and the other one presented with a rectal stenosis secondary to a previous rectosigmoidectomy. In all of them a transabdominal rectosigmoidectomy with coloanal end to end anastomosis by means of a circular intraluminal stapler was performed. In 10 of them (group A), a modified Rehbein operation with intraabdominal anastomosis was performed. In the remaining 15 patients (group B), a modified Swenson operation with exteriorization of the aganglionic colon through the anus and extrabdominal anastomosis was performed.

RESULTS

The postoperative course was evaluated by measuring the postoperative fasting time and the first spontaneous deposition. The medium hospital stay was of 9 days, nevertheless in 16 patients (64%) was lower than 7 days. The postoperative complications are presented. It consists in 1 anastomotic leakage (4%), postoperative enterocolitis 1 case (4%) and transient anastomotic stenosis in 4 patients (16%). All of them were treated with conservative treatment except one case of stenosis which needed a sphincterotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The rectosigmoidectomy and coloanal end to end anastomosis with endoluminal stapler is a safe and easy to do technique to treat the Hirschsprung's disease allowing a deep rectal resection which is very difficult to achieve by manual suture. The anastomosis is located in and extraperitoneal position, with a minimum risk of peritoneal involvement in case of anastomotic leakage. The patients presented a fast recovery, a minimum of complications and good functional result.