Perioperative Histologically Controlled Fistula Resection in Patients with Imperforate Anus and Perineal Fistula.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative constipation (PC) in patients with imperforate anus and perineal fistula (PF) has been reported in up to 60%. Histological studies of PF revealed innervation anomalies which seem to be one of the reasons for PC. Perioperative histologically controlled fistula resection (PHCFR) allows appropriate resection of PF and pull-down normoganglionic rectum at the time of posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 665 patients with anorectal malformations underwent surgery between 1991 and 2021. Of these, 364 presented PF; 92 out of them (41 F) were studied. Patients with sacral and spinal cord anomalies, neurological disorders, and cut-back anoplasty were excluded. PSARP was done on all patients. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and NADH Tetrazolium-reductase histochemical method were used. Four and more ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus represented a sufficient length of the resection. The continence was scored according to the modified Krickenbeck scoring system. Final scores ranged from 1 to 7 points. Values are given as median. RESULTS: A total of 65 (70.7%) patients presented an aganglionic segment in PF, and 27 patients presented hypoganglionosis. The median length of the resected fistula was 25 mm (interquartile range [IQR]: 20-30). The median total continence score was 7 (IQR: 6-7). Post-op constipation was observed in 6/92 (6.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: PHCFR diminished PC to 6.5% of patients.

Endoscopic Recurrence 6 Months After Ileocecal Resection in Children With Crohn Disease Treated With Azathioprine.

OBJECTIVES: Intestinal surgery is an important part of Crohn disease (CD) treatment in children. The aim of the present study was to compare the rate of endoscopic recurrence at the sixth month after ileocecal resection (ICR) in children with CD treated with azathioprine between patients who received prior antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) therapy and those who were not administered this therapy. Moreover, we tried to identify the potential risk factors for disease recurrence and describe the schedule of long-term follow-up after surgery. METHODS: We prospectively collected data from pediatric patients with CD, who underwent ICR between October 2011 and June 2015 at our hospital and were treated with azathioprine monotherapy after ICR. We evaluated the endoscopic recurrence (Rutgeerts score) at the sixth month after ICR in all included patients. RESULTS: Among 21 included patients, 13 achieved endoscopic remission (Rutgeerts score < i2) at the sixth month after ICR. No difference was found between patients who received prior anti-TNF-α therapy and those who did not. We did not find any clinically relevant factors associated with endoscopic recurrence rate at the sixth month. CONCLUSIONS: Prior anti-TNF-α therapy does not seem to be a strong risk factor for endoscopic recurrence within 6 months after ICR. Further studies on large sample of patients are needed to identify potential predictors of disease recurrence.

The diagnostic value of MRI fistulogram and MRI distal colostogram in patients with anorectal malformations.

Contrast fistulogram (FG) and distal pressure colostogram (DPCG) are standard diagnostic methods for the assessment of anorectal malformations. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) earned a place among essential diagnostic methods in preoperative investigations after the Currarino syndrome and a high incidence of associated spinal dysraphism were described. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possibility of substituting FG and DPCG by a modified pelvic MRI, e.g. MRI fistulogram (MRI-FG) and MRI colostogram (MRI-DPCG). The prospective study involved 29 patients with anorectal malformations who underwent a modified pelvic MRI. The length and course of fistulas and rectum, and the presence of sacral anomalies were studied on MRI images and compared with images obtained by radiologic examinations. Modified MRI brought identical results as contrast studies in 25 patients when related to the fistula and rectum length and course. MRI was more accurate for the detection of sacral anomalies. MRI-FG was the only imaging method used in the four most recent patients. The results support the assumption that conventional contrast examinations for the assessment of anorectal malformations can be replaced by MRI, thus reducing the radiation dose.

Hirschsprung's disease and medullary thyroid carcinoma: 15-year experience with molecular genetic screening of the RET proto-oncogene.

PURPOSE: Inactivating germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are the major genetic cause of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). In some cases, HD can be associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) that is commonly caused by activating RET mutations. METHODS: The retrospective and prospective genetic analyses of 157 patients with HD operated on between December 1979 and June 2011 were carried out. DNA was isolated from peripheral leukocytes. HD patients and family members were tested for RET mutations by direct sequencing and single-strand conformation polymorphism methods. RESULTS: RET mutations were detected in 16 patients (10%). Association with MTC was found in two families, other eight families had a mutation with potentially high risk of MTC development and four novel mutations were detected. Total colonic aganglionosis was noted to have a high mutation detection rate (40%). Three patients underwent total thyroidectomy (two had clinical manifestation of MTC, one C-cell hyperplasia). CONCLUSION: Results show the benefit of systematic RET mutation screening in HD patients in order to identify the risk of MTC in the preclinical stage of the disease. All patients should be tested for RET mutations at least in exon 10, and now additionally in exon 11 and 13, as well.