Fecal Incontinence after Posterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty for Anorectal Malformation: A Single-Center Study

BACKGROUND: Fecal incontinence is one of the worst functional complications of posterior sagittal anorectoplasty for treatment of anorectal malformation. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to identify the prevalence of fecal incontinence in patients with the diagnosis of high or low anorectal malformation who underwent three-stage posterior sagittal anorectoplasty surgery in our center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children with the diagnosis of anorectal malformation who underwent posterior sagittal anorectoplasty at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Besat Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from 2012 to 2016 were enrolled in the study. Parents or guardians were recruited and asked to fill the study questionnaire including the Templeton and Ditesheim Scoring System to assess the status of fecal continence of the patients. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients including 10 (29.4%) males were enrolled in the study. High type of anorectal malformation was diagnosed in 23 (67.6%) patients. The overall mean scores of fecal continence were 4.57 ± 0.84 (range 1.5–5) after a mean follow-up time of 50.7 (range 22.5–69.8) months. Good fecal continence was observed in 91.3% of patients with low type compared to 72.8% of patients with high type of anorectal malformation; however, the difference was not significant (P=0.13). CONCLUSION: Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty surgery in patients with anorectal malformation may result in acceptable fecal continence.