Midterm postoperative clinicoradiologic analysis of surgery for high/intermediate-type imperforate anus: prospective comparative study between laparoscopy-assisted and posterior sagittal anorectoplasty.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to analyze the outcome of surgery for high/intermediate-type imperforate anus using anal endosonography (AES), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and a continence evaluation questionnaire (CEQ).

METHODS

In this study, 24 cases of high/intermediate-type imperforate anus were studied. Fifteen of 24 had Georgeson's laparoscopy-assisted anorectoplasty (GLA), and 9 of 24 had Pena's posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PPA). All subjects had AES and MRI postoperatively. On AES, differences in thickness of the external sphincter (ES) and puborectalis (PR) at 3 and 9 o'clock were compared, and if pull-through colon was central, AES was 0. On MRI, differences in thickness were analyzed semiquantitatively and scored; if muscles were of even thickness, the score was 0; slight difference was 1, and marked difference was 2. A 5-parameter CEQ questionnaire (maximum score, 10) was administered to 16 of 24 subjects followed up for more than 3 years (9 GLA, 7 PPA). Surgical stress was assessed using mean febrile period, duration of raised white blood cell count, and peak C-reactive protein level.

RESULTS

Mean age at surgery and mean postoperative period for both groups were not statistically different. There were no differences in mean muscle thickness for ES or PR on AES according to procedure (ES: GLA = 0.19 +/- 0.15 mm, PPA = 0.16 +/- 0.09 mm, P = .59; PR: GLA = 0.19 +/- 0.19 mm, PPA = 0.22 +/- 0.15 mm, P = .69). Magnetic resonance imaging scores were also not significantly different according to procedure (GLA: 0.77 +/- 0.83; PPA: 0.75 +/- 0.50, P = .97). When CEQ were compared annually, scores for GLA were generally higher throughout the study but only statistically significant at 3 and 4 years (P < .05). Differences in parameters of surgical stress were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Although there were no differences in muscle thickness and parameters of surgical stress observed according to technique, GLA would appear to provide better outcome based on CEQ scores.