Outcome comparison among laparoscopic Duhamel, laparotomic Duhamel, and transanal endorectal pull-through: a single-center, 18-year experience.

PURPOSE: Transanal endorectal pull-through has changed the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) in the past decade. The aim of the study was to compare outcomes, obtained in a single center, with laparotomic Duhamel (LTD), laparoscopic Duhamel (LSD), and laparoscopic-assisted transanal endorectal pull-through (LTEPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients operated on for HD since 1992. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were collected to compare short- and long-term outcomes among the three groups. RESULTS: From 1992 to 2010, 70 children were treated for HD. Patients were divided into three groups based on the surgical technique used: 14 LTEPT, 32 LSD, and 24 LTD. Mean ages at surgery were 4.67, 14.61, and 13.28 months, respectively. Patients in the LTEPT group had significant shorter operating times (195 versus 257 versus 291 minutes, P=.03), earlier start of feeding (1.2 versus 3.1 versus 4.7 days, P<.01), and shorter length of hospital stay (4.4 versus 6.8 versus 9.7 days, P<.011). Overall complications rate was lower in the LTEPT (14%) than in the LSD (31.2%) and LTD (29.7%) groups. Postoperative enterocolitis incidence was 3%-4% in the Duhamel groups and none in LTEPT. Long-term outcome showed less constipation and better continence for age in the LTEPT group at the 1-year follow-up (P=.033). CONCLUSIONS: This study further supports technical advantages, lighter impact of the surgical procedure on infants, lower incidence of complications, and better long-term outcome of the transanal pull-through compared to the Duhamel approaches.