Role of anal dilatation in treatment of idiopathic constipation in children: long-term follow-up of a double-blind randomized controlled study

Treatments for intractable constipation in childhood

BACKGROUND

Constipation that is prolonged and does not resolve with conventional therapeutic measures is called intractable constipation. The treatment of intractable constipation is challenging, involving pharmacological or non-pharmacological therapies, as well as surgical approaches. Unresolved constipation can negatively impact quality of life, with additional implications for health systems. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify treatments that are efficacious and safe.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatments used for intractable constipation in children.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and two trials registers up to 23 June 2023. We also searched reference lists of included studies for relevant studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any pharmacological, non-pharmacological, or surgical treatment to placebo or another active comparator, in participants aged between 0 and 18 years with functional constipation who had not responded to conventional medical therapy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were symptom resolution, frequency of defecation, treatment success, and adverse events; secondary outcomes were stool consistency, painful defecation, quality of life, faecal incontinence frequency, abdominal pain, hospital admission for disimpaction, and school absence. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for each primary outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

This review included 10 RCTs with 1278 children who had intractable constipation. We assessed one study as at low risk of bias across all domains. There were serious concerns about risk of bias in six studies. One study compared the injection of 160 units botulinum toxin A (n = 44) to unspecified oral stool softeners (n = 44). We are very uncertain whether botulinum toxin A injection improves treatment success (risk ratio (RR) 37.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.31 to 257.94; very low certainty evidence, downgraded due to serious concerns with risk of bias and imprecision). Frequency of defecation was reported only for the botulinum toxin A injection group (mean interval of 2.6 days). The study reported no data for the other primary outcomes. One study compared erythromycin estolate (n = 6) to placebo (n = 8). The only primary outcome reported was adverse events, which were 0 in both groups. The evidence is of very low certainty due to concerns with risk of bias and serious imprecision. One study compared 12 or 24 μg oral lubiprostone (n = 404) twice a day to placebo (n = 202) over 12 weeks. There may be little to no difference in treatment success (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.92; low certainty evidence). We also found that lubiprostone probably results in little to no difference in adverse events (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.21; moderate certainty evidence). The study reported no data for the other primary outcomes. One study compared three-weekly rectal sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate and sorbitol enemas (n = 51) to 0.5 g/kg/day polyethylene glycol laxatives (n = 51) over a 52-week period. We are very uncertain whether rectal sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate and sorbitol enemas improve treatment success (RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.83 to 2.14; very low certainty evidence, downgraded due to serious concerns with risk of bias and imprecision). Results of defecation frequency per week was reported only as modelled means using a linear mixed model. The study reported no data for the other primary outcomes. One study compared biofeedback therapy (n = 12) to no intervention (n = 12). We are very uncertain whether biofeedback therapy improves symptom resolution (RR 2.50, 95% CI 1.08 to 5.79; very low certainty evidence, downgraded due to serious concerns with risk of bias and imprecision). The study reported no data for the other primary outcomes. One study compared 20 minutes of intrarectal electromotive botulinum toxin A using 2800 Hz frequency and botulinum toxin A dose 10 international units/kg (n = 30) to 10 international units/kg botulinum toxin A injection (n = 30). We are very uncertain whether intrarectal electromotive botulinum toxin A improves symptom resolution (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.22; very low certainty evidence) or if it increases the frequency of defecation (mean difference (MD) 0.00, 95% CI -1.87 to 1.87; very low certainty evidence). We are also very uncertain whether intrarectal electromotive botulinum toxin A has an improved safety profile (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.01 to 4.00; very low certainty evidence). The evidence for these results is of very low certainty due to serious concerns with risk of bias and imprecision. The study did not report data on treatment success. One study compared the injection of 60 units botulinum toxin A (n = 21) to myectomy of the internal anal sphincter (n = 21). We are very uncertain whether botulinum toxin A injection improves treatment success (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.34; very low certainty evidence). No adverse events were recorded. The study reported no data for the other primary outcomes. One study compared 0.04 mg/kg oral prucalopride (n = 107) once daily to placebo (n = 108) over eight weeks. Oral prucalopride probably results in little or no difference in defecation frequency (MD 0.50, 95% CI -0.06 to 1.06; moderate certainty evidence); treatment success (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.72; moderate certainty evidence); and adverse events (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.39; moderate certainty evidence). The study did not report data on symptom resolution. One study compared transcutaneous electrical stimulation to sham stimulation, and another study compared dietitian-prescribed Mediterranean diet with written instructions versus written instructions. These studies did not report any of our predefined primary outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We identified low to moderate certainty evidence that oral lubiprostone may result in little to no difference in treatment success and adverse events compared to placebo. Based on moderate certainty evidence, there is probably little or no difference between oral prucalopride and placebo in defecation frequency, treatment success, or adverse events. For all other comparisons, the certainty of the evidence for our predefined primary outcomes is very low due to serious concerns with study limitations and imprecision. Consequently, no robust conclusions could be drawn.

State of the Art Bowel Management for Pediatric Colorectal Problems: Functional Constipation

BACKGROUND

Functional constipation (FC) affects up to 32% of the pediatric population, and some of these patients are referred to pediatric surgery units to manage their constipation and/or fecal incontinence. The aim of the current paper is to report the recent updates on the evaluation and management of children with FC as a part of a manuscript series on bowel management in patients with anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung disease, spinal anomalies, and FC.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases and focusing on the manuscripts published within the last 5-10 years.

RESULTS

The first step of management of children with FC is to exclude Hirschsprung disease with a contrast study, examination under anesthesia, anorectal manometry (AMAN). If AMAN shows absent rectoanal inhibitory reflex, a rectal biopsy is performed. Internal sphincter achalasia or high resting pressures indicate botulinum toxin injection. Medical management options include laxatives, rectal enemas, transanal irrigations, and antegrade flushes. Those who fail conservative treatment require further assessment of colonic motility and can be candidates for colonic resection. The type of resection (subtotal colonic resection vs. Deloyer's procedure) can be guided with a balloon expulsion test.

CONCLUSION

Most of the patients with FC referred for surgical evaluation can be managed conservatively. Further studies are required to determine an optimal strategy of surgical resection in children unresponsive to medical treatment.

Risk factors for Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis following Soave: a retrospective study over a decade

Background

Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC), one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality for patients with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), can occur before and after radical surgery. This study aims to identify the risk factors for HAEC before and after Soave. 

Methods

A retrospective study of 145 patients with HSCR treated by transanal or combination with laparoscopic or laparotomy Soave procedure between January 2011 and June 2021 was performed. Data were retrieved from the medical records. HAEC was defined as the presence of clinical signs of bowel inflammation and requiring treatment with intravenous antibiotics and rectal irrigation for at least two days in the outpatient or inpatient department. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression models were used to identify risk factors for developing pre-and postoperative HAEC.

Results

The incidence of pre-and postoperative HAEC was 24.1% and 20.7%, respectively. More than 90% of the patients with the first episode of postoperative HAEC occurred within the first year after Soave. Long-segment aganglionosis was the independent risk factor for developing preoperative HAEC ([OR] 5.8, Cl 2.4–14.2, p < 0.001), while the history of preoperative HAEC was significantly associated with developing postoperative HAEC ([OR] 4.2, Cl 1.6–10.8, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Long-segment aganglionosis was the independent risk factor for the development of preoperative HAEC, and the history of preoperative HAEC was strongly associated with developing HAEC after Soave.

Level of Evidence

Level III

Outcomes of preoperative anal dilatation for Hirschsprung disease

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

There are some studies about the effect of postoperative anal dilatation on anastomotic stenosis and Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC), but we have not seen any report about preoperative anal dilatation. We hypothesized that preoperative anal dilatation could reduce the incidence of HAEC and facilitate the operation. We aim to compare the HAEC rates and postoperative complications between groups who either had or did not have anal dilatations (AD or NAD) prescribed before laparoscopic-assisted Soave pull-through procedures for Hirschsprung disease (HD); by this means, we will evaluate the benefit of dilatations before the surgery for HD.

METHODS

A retrospective review of children with HD operated in our hospital between 2014 and 2018 was performed. Those with 21 trisomy, total colonic aganglionosis, multiple stage procedures, serious congenital malformations, and lost to follow-up were excluded. Patients were divided into preoperative anal dilatation group (AD group) and no preoperative anal dilatation group (NAD group). Routine anal dilatation was performed in both groups from 2 weeks after laparoscopic-assisted Soave pull-through. The anal dilatation was carried out daily with metal anal dilators with size appropriate to the age of the child. The size of the anal dilators was increased by 1 mm every 2 weeks for at least 3 months. Demographic data, operation time, pre- and postoperative HAEC rates and postoperative obstructive symptoms between groups were compared. Significance was considered at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

There were 95 children (17 female and 78 male) included, 36 AD and 59 NAD. There was no significant difference in demographic data between the two groups. The incidence of HAEC between the groups was not different both preoperatively (14% vs. 24%, P = 0.298) and postoperatively (11% vs. 19%, P = 0.171). The postoperative obstructive symptoms rates were 19% versus 22% for the AD and NAD groups, respectively (P = 0.802). The operation time of group AD was significantly shorter than that of group NAD (P = 0.008). Preoperative anal dilatation could shorten the operation time in short and typical-segment (2.08 ± 0.39 vs. 2.67 ± 0.37, P = 0.009 and 3.05 ± 0.38 vs. 3.29 ± 0.46, P = 0.042), but has no significant effect on long-segment disease (3.85 ± 0.41 vs. 3.89 ± 0.30, P = 0.839).

CONCLUSION

We have not shown a reduced risk of developing HAEC or postoperative obstructive symptoms if anal dilatations are prescribed before surgery. However, it may decrease the difficulties of surgeries, so the operative time is shortened.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognosis study.

LEVEL

II.

Surgical Management of Idiopathic Constipation in Pediatric Patients

Constipation is a common childhood problem, but an anatomic or physiologic cause is identified in fewer than 5% of children. By definition, idiopathic constipation is a diagnosis of exclusion. Careful clinical evaluation and thoughtful use of imaging and other testing can help exclude specific causes of constipation and guide therapy. Medical management with laxatives is effective for the majority of constipated children. For those patients unresponsive to medications, however, several surgical options can be employed, including anal procedures, antegrade colonic enemas, colorectal resection, and intestinal diversion. Judicious use of these procedures in properly selected patients and based on appropriate preoperative testing can lead to excellent outcomes. This review summarizes the surgical options available for managing refractory constipation in children and provides guidance on how to choose the best procedure for a given patient.

Defecation-Specific Behavior in Children with Functional Defecation Issues: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Atypical defecation habits are common and distressing for children and families and can have a major impact on quality of life. Often, no underlying factor can be identified, and the defecation disorder is considered functional. Current interventions are not successful for up to 50% of children. We suggest this high failure rate may be caused by lack of consistency in descriptors of behavioral indicators for functional defecation problems. Most investigations and descriptors focus on general behavior. There are fewer reports concerning defecation-specific behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a thorough inventory of defecation-specific behaviors, providing a more informed foundation for assessment and intervention.

DESIGN

A systematic review of six common databases was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations. Reference lists of retained articles were screened for additional studies.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Content analysis was used to classify defecation-specific behaviors into 17 categories.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 2677 articles; 98 peer-reviewed publications were retained for full-text review, and 67 articles were included in the final qualitative synthesis. Although there is inconsistency in reported diagnostic criteria, stool withholding and manifesting pain on defecation are the most commonly reported defecation-specific behaviors. In the studies that included children with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the defecation-specific behaviors were not unique to the diagnostic group.

CONCLUSION

Consistent use of established diagnostic criteria, along with use of behaviors identified through this review, lay a foundation for more effective interventions.

Surgical options for the management of severe functional constipation in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Constipation is a very common problem in pediatrics with both the severity of presentations and treatments varying across a broad spectrum. The majority of children with functional constipation are managed successfully without the need for specialized testing and surgical intervention. Those who present with intractable constipation, with or without fecal soiling, require referrals for motility testing that helps determine both medical and surgical management, and interventions. The literature was reviewed for publications on surgical approaches to children with severe constipation, including assessing the quality and levels of evidence and the use of objective measures to determine outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is very little in the way of recent studies evaluating surgical indications or treatment approaches for functional constipation, apart from one systematic review and one recent expert review. Although the systematic review was published in the last year, most of the studies it analyzes are older. The vast majority of studies comprise level 4 and 5 evidence.

SUMMARY

The indication for most surgical procedures is 'failed' medical management, yet no standardized definition for this exists. Many surgical procedures are proposed with little evidence to show outcomes. We recommend that the surgical evaluation and treatment of children with constipation needs to be protocolized and studied in a prospective manner using validated outcomes measures. Our center's current protocol is described.

Anorectal manometry with and without ketamine for evaluation of defecation disorders in children

INTRODUCTION

Anorectal manometry (ARCM) provides valuable information in children with chronic constipation and fecal incontinence but may not be tolerated in the awake child. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ketamine anesthesia on the assessment of anorectal function by manometry and to evaluate defecation dynamics and anal sphincter resting pressure in the context of pathophysiology of chronic functional (idiopathic) constipation and soiling in children.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of children who were investigated for symptoms of chronic constipation and soiling between April 2001 and April 2004. We studied 52 consecutive children who had awake ARCM, biofeedback training and endosonography (awake group) and 64 children who had ketamine anesthesia for ARCM and endosonography (ketamine group). We age matched 31 children who had awake anorectal studies with 27 who had ketamine anesthesia.

RESULTS

The children in awake and ketamine groups were comparable for age, duration of bowel symptoms and duration of laxative treatments. ARCM profile was comparable between the awake and the ketamine groups with regard to anal sphincter resting pressure, rectal capacity, amplitude of rectal contractions, frequency of rectal and IAS contractions and functional length of anal canal. Of 52 children who had awake ARCM, dyssynergia of the EAS muscles was observed in 22 (42%) and median squeeze pressure was 87mm Hg (range 25-134). The anal sphincter resting pressure was non-obstructive and comparable to healthy normal children. Rectoanal inhibitory reflex was seen in all children excluding diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Ketamine anesthesia does not affect quantitative or qualitative measurements of autonomic anorectal function and can be used reliably in children who will not tolerate the manometry while awake. Paradoxical contraction of the EAS can only be evaluated in the awake children and should be investigated further as the underlying cause of obstructive defecation in patients with chronic functional constipation and soiling.

Surgical management of constipation

This review addresses the range of operations suggested to be of contemporary value in the treatment of constipation with critical evaluation of efficacy data, complications, patient selection, controversies and areas for future research.

Transcutaneous needle-free injection of botulinum toxin: a novel treatment of childhood constipation and anal fissure

PURPOSE

Constipation is a common problem in children, and when it becomes chronic fecal impaction, overflow soiling and megarectum may develop. Children with chronic idiopathic constipation (IC) may not respond to conventional treatments of laxatives, enemas, and toilet training. The aims of the study were to evaluate the long-term outcome of transcutaneous needle-free injection of botulinum toxin (TNFBT) into the external anal sphincter (EAS) and to assess the extent of the toxin penetration into the sphincter.

METHOD

Children were recruited if symptomatic with chronic constipation, soiling, painful defecation, and withholding behavior requiring disimpaction of stool and rectal biopsy under general anesthesia. A total dose of 200 U of botulinum toxin (BT) (Dysport; Ipsen Limited, Slough, United Kingdom) was injected transcutaneously into the EAS at 3 and 9-o'clock positions using J-tip needle-free syringes (National Medical Products Inc, Irvine, Calif). The depth and width of toxin penetration was assessed by endosonography. Outcome was measured by a validated symptom severity (SS) score questionnaire. The total SS score ranged between 0 (best) and 65 (worst). The outcome was compared with 31 children in a comparable historical control group at 3 and 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Sixteen children were recruited with median age of 6.11 (range, 3-14.85) years and median duration of symptoms of 3.9 years (1.6-11.5). On endosonography, the median depth and width of BT penetration was 8 (7-10) mm and 8 (6-10) mm, respectively. At 3-month follow-up, the median SS score improved in all children after TNFBT from 32.50 (5-57) to 7.50 (0-26) (Wilcoxon's P < .0001). There were significant improvements in symptoms of constipation, soiling, painful defecation, general health and behavior, and fecal impaction of rectum (P < .05). Anal fissures healed in all 4 children. The SS score in the control group improved from 33 (12-49) to 15 (0-40) (P < .0001). At 12-month follow-up, the improvement of SS score in TNFBT group was significantly more than the control group as follows: 4 (0-25) vs 15 (0-51), respectively (Mann-Whitney U P < .002). Three patients had a second TNFBT injection for relapsed symptoms. There were no complications. The transcutaneous needle-free injection of botulinum toxin eliminates the risk of intravascular injection or needlestick injury. The transcutaneous needle-free injection of botulinum toxin also has other therapeutic applications including an alternative therapy to biofeedback training for dyssynergia of the EAS, treatment of muscle limb spasticity in cerebral palsy, and cosmetic treatment of overactive facial muscles and wrinkles and hyperhydrosis.

CONCLUSION

Transcutaneous needle-free injection of botulinum toxin into the external anal sphincter is a novel and safe new treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and anal fissure in children. A second injection may be required in 20% of patients.

Evaluation of outcome of anorectal anomaly in childhood: the role of anorectal manometry and endosonography

The aim of this study was to evaluate role of anorectal manometry (ARM) and anal endosonography (ES) in assessment of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) quality on continence outcome following repair of anorectal anomalies (ARA). We devised a scoring system to evaluate the quality of the IAS based on ARM and ES and correlated the scores with clinical outcome, using a modified Wingfield score (MWS) for faecal continence. We also assessed the implication of megarectum and neuropathy on faecal continence. Of 54 children studied, 34 had high ARA and 20 had low ARA. Children with high ARA had poor sphincters on ES and ARM, and also poor faecal continence compared to those with low ARA. The presence of megarectum and neuropathy was associated with uniformly poor outcome irrespective of the IAS quality. The correlations between MWS on one hand, and ES and ARM scores for IAS on the other hand were weak in the whole study group, ES r = 0.27, P < 0.04, and ARM r = 0.39, P < 0.004. However, the correlations were strong in those who had isolated ARA without megarectum or neuropathy, ES r = 0.51, P < 0.02 and ARM r = 0.55, P < 0.01, respectively. In conclusion, the ARM and ES are valuable in evaluation of continence outcome in children after surgery for ARA and those with good quality IAS had better faecal continence. The IAS is a vital component in functional outcome in absence of neuropathy and megarectum.

Botulinum toxin, a new treatment modality for chronic idiopathic constipation in children: long-term follow-up of a double-blind randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Myectomy of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) has been performed on some children after failure of medical treatment to treat idiopathic constipation. The aim of this study was to compare botulinum toxin injection with myectomy of the IAS in the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and soiling in children.

METHODS

This was a double-blind randomized trial. Patients between 4 and 16 years old were included in the study if they had failed to respond to laxative treatment and anal dilatation for chronic idiopathic constipation. All study patients had anorectal manometry and anal endosonography under ketamine anesthesia. Outcome was measured using a validated symptom severity (SS) scoring system, with scores ranging from 0 to 65.

RESULTS

Of 42 children, 21 were randomized to the botulinum group and 21 were randomized to the myectomy group. At the 3-month follow-up, the median preoperative SS score improved from 34 (range = 19-47) to 20 (range = 2-43) in the botulinum group (P < .001) and from 31 (range = 18-49) to 19 (range = 3-47) in the myectomy group (P < .002). At the 12-month follow-up, the scores were 19 (range = 0-45) and 14.5 (range = 0-41) for the botulinum group and the myectomy group, respectively (P < .0001). There was no complication in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Botulinum toxin is equally effective as and less invasive than myectomy of the IAS for chronic idiopathic constipation and fecal incontinence in children.