Laparoscopically Assisted Anorectal Pull-through Versus Posterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty for High and Intermediate Anorectal Malformations : A Comparative Study

The incidence of anorectal malformation ~1 in 5,000 More common in Down's syndrome and Cat-eye syndrome. Male >female (60:40).It is classified into many types according to the degree of descent of the rectal pouch in the pelvis, the fistula between the rectum and the urinary system in males and genital system in females. The most common type in males is high anorectal malformation with rectourethral fistula

There are many historical operations for the management of the high type, but the most popular operation now is the posterior sagittal anorectoplasty which was published for the first time in 1982. Children undergoing posterior sagittal anorectoplasty may have lifelong bowel management problems of constipation, incontinence, and encopresis.

After the introduction of laparoscopy in pediatric surgery, many surgeons hope that the use of laparoscopy instead of posterior sagittal anorectoplasty may reduce the complications of the complications of the big incision and disturbance of sphincter mechanism which occur in posterior sagittal anorectoplasty operation. In addition to its role in diagnosis in complex anomalies like cloaca which is well established now. So the question is to what extent can the laparoscopy replace usual surgery for anorectal malformation.