2008 Volume 44 Issue 5 Pages 651-654
Background/Purpose: To discuss the surgical management of the patient with short-segment Hirschsprung's disease in childhood and over school age. Methods: Between December 1984 and December 2005, we performed anorectal myectomy for children and those over school age with Hirschsprung's disease who were diagnosed with short-segment Hirschsprung's disease. We discuss age of the diagnosis, sex, level of aganglionosis, and prognosis. Results: We performed anorectal myectomy for 4 patients. The patients ranged from 9 years 4 months to 19 years 6 months at the age of diagnosis by contrast enema and histological findings. Three were male and 3 were female. Four of them were diagnosed with short-segment aganglionosis, 2 of them had rectosigmoid aganglionosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological findings. Two rectosigmoid aganglionosis patients had had pull-through procedures and their symptoms had started in infancy. Four received anorectal myectomy and 3 of them showed improvement of bowel habits. They were short-segment aganglionosis and their symptoms had started after the age of infancy. Conclusions: Anorectal myectomy may be useful for short-segment Hirschsprung's disease in the child whose symptoms started after the age of infancy.
