Abstract
This paper describes results of long-term follow-up in patients with Hirschsprung's disease treated at our department and a nationwide survey on those patients over 20 years following the definitive operations. Results are summarized as follows : 1)0ne hundred and thirty-two of 155 patients with Hirschsprung's disease are still alive and well. 2)The most widely used operation was Z-shaped anastomosis seen in 116 patients. Of the 116 patients, one-hundred and ten are alive. Sixty-nine are over 10 postoperative years including 25 over 20 years. 3)After 5 years following Z-shaped anastomosis, about 80% of the patients had nearly normal ano-rectal function. 4)Physical growth, character, sports activities, and academic career in patients are almost as same as people in general. 5)Therefore, Z-shaped anastomosis is one of the most reliable and safest method as the definitive operation in Hirschsprung's disease. 6)A nationwide survey on patients over 20 postoperative years was conducted, and 222 cases were collected from major 17 institutions. 7)Swenson's method was more widely used compared with the present trend. 8)About 80% of the patients had almost normal ano-rectal function. 9)Married patients were seen in 33, and 22 families had a total of 33 children. All of them were not Hirschsprung's disease. 10)Most of the cases have taken important occupation. It is very grateful for pediatric surgeons that there are one medical doctor, three medical students, and one nurse.
