Clinicai and radiological postoperativeevaluation of posterior sagittal anorectoplasty in patients with _ upper and intermediate anorectal malformations

lhe PSARP is today the most-used surgical technique for correction of high and intermediary anorectal malformations. lhere is much controversy in the literature about the post-operative evaluation of these cases. We studied 27 cases of anorectal malformations from clinicai and radiological aspects, in order to analyse: 1.Fecal continence 2.Relationship between post-operative fecal continence and the associated sacral anomalies 3.Relationship between the radiological evaluation by defecogram and fecal continence From the analysis of the cases, we concluded: 1.Fecal continence was achieved in 48.14% of the cases; partial continence in 25.92%; and fecal incontinence in 25.92% of the cases. 2.The presence of fecal incontinence was directly related to the associated sacral anomalies.


S
ince studies done by Pena and De Vries I, posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) has become the main treatment for upper and intermediate anorectal malformations (ARM) around the world.
However, carefullong term evaluation must be done to allow complete approval ofthis method.
Therefore, we analyzed clinicaI and radiological assays of 27 children with upper and intermediate ARMs who underwent PSARP.

PATIENTS
We studied 27 white children with 21 upper and 6 intermediate ARMs, of which 17 were male and 10 were female, who underwent colostomies, PSARPs, and anal dilations with Hegar's candle, after which the colostomies were closed; ages varied from 4 to 11 years.We selected patients who were over 4 years old because at this age fecal continence is well-developed in normal children.AlI children were evaluated 3 months or more after the colostomies were closed.
All children were evaluated clinically and radiologically by defecograms using the Haberkorn technique 2 for the following parameters: 1.

Fecal continence 2.
Relation between fecal continence and the presence of sacral malformations Presence of fecaloma c) Impression on posterior rectum caused by the , çontractions of the :puborectalis of the levator ani, which is part of the superior sphincter muscular complex d) Absence of inferior sphincter muscular compIex tightening, which is formed by the sphincter ani externs and is demonstrated by constant evacuation Children who: defecated once or twice a day; with no soiling; whose feces and anus presented no alterations; with good upper and lower rectal contraction during examination were considered continent.
ChiIdren who: defecated three to five times a day; with normal feces and frequent soiIing; who presented rectal prolapse; with moderate upper or Iower contraction during rectal examination were considered partially continent.
Children who: defecated more than five times a day; with liquid feces; constant and total fecalloss; anus with a large opening, or rectal prolapse, and loss of feces; with light or nil upper or lower contraction during examination were consÍdered incontinent 3 • We used chi-square test for statistical analysis of table 2 to compare continent, partially continent, and incontinent patients according to the characteristics above.We used Fisher's exact test 4 to associate continent, partially continent, and incontinent patients' tightening of externaI sphincter; the leveI of significance used was 5% (p ~0.05).

Fecal Continence
Thirteen of the 27 cases presented fecal continence, 7 cases presented partial continence, and 7 presented incontinence.
Eight of the thirteen continent patients had upper, ARMs and 5 had intermediate ARMs; six of the seven partially continent-patients had upper ARMs and 1 had an intermediate ARM; all 7 incontinent patients had upper ARMs.
Distribution according to gender was the following: Continent -7 male and 6 female.Partial1y continent -5 male and 2 female.Incontinent -5 male and 2 female.

Relation Between Fecal Continence and Associated Sacral Malformations
One of the thirteen continent children presented an associated sacral malformation; 3 of the seven partially continent children presented associated sacral anomalies; six of the seven incontinent children presented associated sacral anomalies.
Vertebral mal formations found in these patients can be seen in TabIe 1. Absence of sacral vertebra 5 and coccyx

Relation Between Fecal Continence and Defecogram
Results are shown in Table 2.  Figure 3 • Absence of externai sphincter tightening associated with fibrosis in incontinent patient

DISCUSSION
Postoperative evaluation of fecal continence after correction of ARMs has been controversial, and a consensus has not been reached in spite of numerous reports (5, 6, 7 and 8).
Our clinicaI evaluation is based on a blend of what has been proposed recently.
Our results agree with those by other authors, with the exception ofLanjemeijer & Mollenaar -1991 (9), who stated that this surgical technique never allows normal fecal continence.
The presence of sacral malformations have an effect on fecal continence especially in upper ARM.ClinicaI manifestations are greater when entire sacral sections are not present, but even hemisacral malformations may be occasionally responsible for nerve involvement; therefore, it is important to observe the following data: 1. Innervation of levator ani and bladder are usualIy normal in malformations of vertebrae 4 and 5. 2.
Malformations of sacral vertebrae 3, 4, and 5 lead to variable innervation of bladder and levator ani, but most patients become incontinente 3.
Malformations of sacral vertebrae 1 and 2 are associated with incontinence since the levator ani not only presents problems with its innervation but also is underdeveloped.

4.
Hemisacral malformations are unpredictable; involvement of vertebrae 4 and 5 in these cases usually leads to bladder and levator ani malfunctions.In our study, 42.85% of the partially continent and 85.71 %of the incontinent patients presented sacral malformations.These results agree with studies of Pena 10 and Martins 11, which state that sacral malformations are usually associated with neurological problems and muscle weakening.
Evaluation of patients using defecograms in our study was consistent with fecal continence, although many authors consider puborectal impression on the posterior rectum to be more important, eg: KellyI2.13,Cyweset al'4.
These authors report that the puborectal impression on the posterior rectum gives a better idea of the function of the sphincter and its relation to fecal continence.Our study does not agree since alI patients, including the incontinent ones, presented a puborectal impression on the posterior rectum, with only one exception.
Our results show that the best parameter is the tightening ofthe externaI anal sphincter, which was present in all continent patients and no.t present in 71.42% of the incontinent patients.
Other features, such as the rectal reservoir, the presence of fecaloma, and the alteration of anorectal angle did not show any significant results in the evaluation of postoperative continence.PSARP was efficient in maintaining fecal continence in 48.14% of the cases and partial fecal continence in 25.92% of the cases.

2.
Fecal incontinence was associated directly with sacral malformations.

3.
Absence of externaI anal sphincter tightening in patients with fecal incontinence, as demonstrated by defecograms, was significantly higher.