Institutional experience with laparoscopic-assisted anorectal pull-through in a series of 17 cases: A retrospective analysis

AIMS: To retrospectively analyse the results of laparoscopically-assisted anorectal pull-through (LAARP) for high anorectal malformation (ARM) in male children in our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed the hospital records of patients who had undergone LAARP from October 2010 to December 2015 in terms of age, operative time, length of hospital stay and post-operative complications. RESULTS: Of 17 cases, 13 (76%) were in 6–12 months age group, whereas rest of them were in 12–18 months age group. The recto-prostatic urethral fistula was encountered in 82% (n = 14) of patients and rectovesical type in two cases (12%). The mean operative time was 132 min with mean length of hospital stay being 4 days. Rectal mucosal prolapse was the most common complication noted. CONCLUSIONS: LAARP is a feasible approach to male children with high ARMs with less post-operative morbidity.