Diagnosis and treatment of fecal incontinence after surgical correction of congenital anocolorectal pathology in children

Abstract

Fecal incontinence (FI) in children is a serious medical and social problem. FI leads to severe limitations in a child’s development and social adaptation. Pediatric surgeons mainly deal with the mechanical type of FI that occurs after surgical correction of anorectal malformations (ARM) or Hirschsprung's disease (HD). Violation of defecation control is observed in 53-89% of patients who underwent surgery for ARM and HD.

Purpose - to study the causes and effectiveness of the proposed complex treatment of FI in children operated on for HD and ARM.

Materials and methods. Clinical examination and treatment of 92 children with congenital pathology of the distal colon and anus (55 (59.78%) patients with HG and 37 (40.22%) with ARM) was carried out at the Pediatric Surgery Clinic of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. Among the surveyed children were 64 boys and 28 girls (ratio - 2.29:1). In terms of age, newborns and children of the first year of life predominated among those who underwent primary surgery - 57 (61.95%) children. FI of varying severity was detected in 48 (52.17%) patients operated on for HD and ARM at different terms after surgical correction - from 6 months to 3 years. The types, causes, and severity of FI in each child were studied. In addition to conventional clinical and instrumental studies, patients underwent anoscopy and rectoscopy, transanal ultrasound, anorectal manometry. The severity of AI was assessed on a S.D. Wexner score.

Results. FI occurred in 34 (70.8%) children after HD correction and in 14 (29.2%) patients after ARM surgery. True FI was found in 33 (68.75%) children. Pseudoincontinence was detected in 15 (31.25%) patients it was more common in patients operated on for HD. For conservative treatment of patients with FI a Bowel Management Program was implemented. In 24 (50.0%) patients treated according to this program, the control of defecation was significantly improved, the incontinence severity index was significantly reduced according to the Wexner score. In true AI due to severe anal sphincter damage, we performed minimally invasive surgical correction of postoperative insufficiency or congenital defect of the internal sphincter of the anus using a volume-forming implant in 14 (29.17%) children. Immediate and long-term results of the operation were good, which was reflected in improved control of defecation, a significant increase of basal pressure and a decrease of the incontinence severity index.

Conclusions. Tactics of the FI treatment depends on the cause and severity. The implementation of the Bowel Management Program can significantly improve the control of defecation and improve the quality of life of patients. In case of insufficiency of the internal anal sphincter, minimally invasive correction by anal submucosal implantation of a volume-forming gel is effective.

The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies.

No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.