Early Versus Delayed Postoperative Enteral Feeding to Reduce the Incidence of Perineal Wound Infection Following Anterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty of Congenital Recto-vestibular Fistula

congenital Recto vestibular fistula represents the commonest type of anorectal malformation in females. The treatment of this anomaly is mainly approached either through anterior or posterior sagittal ano-rectoplasty approach. Several perioperative factors may affect the outcome. One of major postoperative complications is the occurrence of wound infection.

Purpose: we aimed to study the effect of delayed vs early postoperative enteral feeding on the occurrence of postoperative wound infection and dehiscence.

Patients and methods:

A prospective randomized trial included 55 infants with recto-vestibular fistula. All infants were managed by single stage anterior sagittal anorectoplasty at an age ≥ 3 months. Patients were divided into two groups. group A included infants who started oral intake on the 5th postoperative day and group B included infants who started oral intake on the 2nd postoperative day. The primary outcome was the onset of perineal wound infection. Group A infants were kept on peripheral parenteral nutrition during fasting period.