Functional Outcomes of Patients Who Underwent Anorectal Malformation Repair Using MRI Guidance.

BACKGROUND: Despite the initiation of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, the majority of patients who undergo anorectal malformation repair still experience functional bowel issues in childhood, including constipation and fecal incontinence. In this study, we evaluate the functional outcomes of a procedure in which magnetic resonance imaging guidance is used during initial laparoscopic repair to better locate the epicenter of the sphincter muscle complex and pelvic floor with the goal of more accurate placement of the neoanus and improved functional outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective chart review evaluated demographic, operative, and outcome details for patients who underwent this procedure. A telephone survey was employed to determine levels of social continence using the validated Baylor Continence Scale and to determine what type of bowel management is used. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included. Median age at operation was 7 months, and median age at follow-up was 4 years old, with a range of 1-9. Bowel management regimen results revealed that 19 % (n = 5) use no bowel management regimen, 58 % (n = 15) use laxatives only, and 23 % (n = 6) use enemas. Enema use was not associated with different spine or sacral anomalies (p = 0.77). Fifteen patients (58 %) answered the Baylor Continence Scale questions and had a median score of 14. No difference was found in scores when accounting for lesion level (p = 0.43), quality of needle placement (p = 0.46), or quality of sphincter muscles (p = 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Using MRI guidance in the repair of anorectal malformations shows promise in both the qualitative and quantitative functional outcomes of this complex patient population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Do preoperative factors predict success of antegrade continence enemas in children?

INTRODUCTION: Antegrade continent enemas (ACE) procedures are one treatment option in children with medically refractory constipation or encopresis and predicting success is difficult. We hypothesize that there are preoperative factors that can be identified to help with patient selection and family counseling. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of children who underwent a cecostomy or appendicostomy for an ACE program between 2015 and 2021. Underlying diagnosis, pre-operative bowel regimen and imaging were analyzed. Patients were reviewed for success at 3-, 6- and 12-months post-procedure. Data was analyzed with Fisher's Exact, Kruskal-Wallis and logistic regression where applicable with significance defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Forty-three children were identified; 28 were male, 15 were female, mean age at time of operation was 8 years old. 76% were considered successful at 3-months, 86% at 6-months, and 87% at 12-months post- procedure. Univariate analysis showed that a pre-ACE retrograde enema program predicted success at 3-months (94% vs. 64% p = 0.03) but no difference at 6- or 12-months. At one year after ACE procedure there was a significant reduction in number of enteral medications (2 to 0, p < 0.01) and 94% of patients were on one or fewer at one year follow-up. Age, gender, weight at time of operation, contrast enema, anorectal manometry and colonic transit time results were not predictive of outcomes. CONCLUSION: In this study, we characterized expected time to success in our population as well as identified use of a pre-operative retrograde enema program as a potential predictor of success at 3-months in children undergoing an ACE procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV. TYPE OF STUDY: Prognosis study.

Laparoscopic Cecostomy Tube Placement.

Fecal incontinence is a debilitating problem for many children, especially those with anorectal malformations. Historically, surgical options have included the Malone antegrade continence enema, using an appendicostomy for antegrade colonic enemas. Since the development of this procedure, multiple alternatives have been developed, including the Chait cecostomy tube. Here, we present our technique for laparoscopic cecostomy tube placement. We find that this approach has several advantages, including mobilization of the cecum to allow the tube to be placed below the waistline for optimal cosmesis and comfort, increased safety provided by direct vision of needle access to the cecum, and increased security of the cecum to the abdominal wall allowing for safer tube replacement should it become dislodged in the early postoperative period.

Antegrade continent enema procedures performed prior to starting school may improve functional stooling and quality of life.

PURPOSE: A major research gap is determining the best age to perform an appendicostomy or cecostomy. This study hypothesizes that performance of appendicostomy/cecostomy prior to starting school (<6 years) would improve functional stooling and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Patients who underwent appendicostomy/cecostomy for bowel management between 2003 and 2013 were retrospectively identified. Families were prospectively surveyed regarding current stooling habits (17 items) and a (7 item) pediatric QOL survey. Lower stooling survey scores represent better bowel control. Higher QOL scores indicated better quality. The primary outcome was to correlate age of appendicostomy/cecostomy to QOL score. Statistics were performed using paired, unpaired t tests, and Chi-square. p Values ≤0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: 35 patients underwent placement of appendicostomy/cecostomy. Fourteen (40%) patients/families were prospectively contacted (<6, n = 6; >6, n = 8). Stooling scores (15.17 ± 1.35 vs. 22.25 ± 1.70; for <6 vs. >6 years old, p = 0.009) and continence scores (6.33 ± 1.45 vs. 11.13 ± 1.64; p = 0.06), at time of contacting families, were significantly better in those undergoing appendicostomy/cecostomy in the <6 group. Pre-procedure QOL scores for the two groups were similar (p = 0.89). Post-procedure QOL significantly increased to the good subcategory for both age groups; however improvement was significantly better in the <6 age group vs. ≥6 group: 6.33 ± 0.92 vs. 3.13 ± 0.91 points (p = 0.03). A secondary parent survey showed significantly more families wished an appendicostomy/cecostomy were done earlier in the >6 vs. <6 group (87.5 vs. 33%; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Early placement of cecostomy or appendicostomy as part of a bowel management program may contribute to improved QOL and functional stooling.