Clinical characteristics, prognosis, and its risk factors of anorectal malformations: a retrospective study of 332 cases in Anhui Province of China

Analysis of Risk Factors for Anorectal Malformations Combined with Tethered Cord Syndrome and the Impact of Untethering Surgery on Anorectal Function in Related Children: Preliminary Results from a Single-Center Study

BACKGROUND

Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are often associated with tethered cord syndrome (TCS). This study focused on children with ARM to explore the risk factors for the co-occurrence of TCS and to investigate the impact of untethering surgery on anorectal function among these children.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 130 children with ARM treated at Fujian Provincial Children's Hospital (Fujian Hospital of Shanghai Children's Medical Center) from May 2021 to January 2024. A total of 114 children were included in the study on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of TCS: the ARM group (n = 83) and the ARM+TCS group (n = 31). to explore the risk factors for the co-occurrence of ARM and TCS. All children diagnosed with TCS underwent untethering surgery regardless of symptoms. Anorectal function was compared between the ARM and ARM+TCS groups.

RESULTS

In the multivariate analysis, intermediate or high-type ARM increased the risk of children with ARM having TCS, with an OR of 3.572, 95% CI from 1.355 to 9.418, and p = 0.010. Additionally, the presence of other malformations also increased the risk of children with ARM having TCS (p = 0.026). When the ARM+TCS group was compared with the ARM group, children with low-type ARM in the ARM+TCS group exhibited a significant improvement in constipation following untethering surgery (p = 0.043). However, when children with intermediate or high-type ARM were compared, the anorectal function of the children in both groups was comparable.

CONCLUSIONS

Intermediate or high-type ARM and the presence of other malformations are risk factors for the co-occurrence of TCS in children with ARM. In children with low-type ARM, those with TCS and ARM showed significant improvement in constipation after untethering surgery compared with those with ARM without TCS. We recommend that children with relevant conditions actively undergo untethering surgery.

Single-stage procedures for anorectal malformations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to describe all published studies of single-stage procedures for anorectal malformations and to perform a meta-analysis of studies that compared single-stage to staged procedures.

METHODS

Searches were conducted in Pubmed, Medline, Embase and CENTRAL. Meta-analysis was performed in RevMan and expressed as forest plots with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Thirty-eight studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing 537 patients. The majority (70%) of patients included in this meta-analysis had either perineal or vestibular fistulas. Surgical site infection (SSI) was defined as any reported infection involving the neoanus (both superficial infection and dehiscence) and occurred in 51 of the 291 patients who underwent single-stage procedures, and 26 of the 244 patients who underwent staged procedure. Meta-analysis showed a 2.2 times higher risk of surgical site infection (SSI) amongst patients who undergo single-stage procedures (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.26, 3.92). Six of the 293 patients (2%) who underwent single-stage procedures required a rescue ostomy for wound dehiscence. In LMIC the risk of wound dehiscence was three-fold higher in single-stage (36/202) compared to staged procedures (12/126) (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.42, 6.63). In HIC there was no evidence of an increased risk of wound dehiscence in patients who underwent a single-stage (15/91) compared to a staged procedure (14/118) (OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.65, 3.51). There is no evidence of a difference between single-stage versus staged procedures with regards to functional outcomes including voluntary bowel movements (79/90 versus 111/128), soiling (24/165 versus 20/203) or constipation (27/90 versus 36/128).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review provides further evidence that single-stage procedures for selected patients with anorectal malformations are safe. Whilst there is evidence of an increased risk of SSI, this did not translate to a significant difference in long-term functional outcomes.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

The incidence of abdominal surgical site infections after abdominal birth defects surgery in infants: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSI) are a frequent and significant problem understudied in infants operated for abdominal birth defects. Different forms of SSIs exist, namely wound infection, wound dehiscence, anastomotic leakage, post-operative peritonitis and fistula development. These complications can extend hospital stay, surge medical costs and increase mortality. If the incidence was known, it would provide context for clinical decision making and aid future research. Therefore, this review aims to aggregate the available literature on the incidence of different SSIs forms in infants who needed surgery for abdominal birth defects.

METHOD

The electronic databases Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library were searched in February 2020. Studies describing infectious complications in infants (under three years of age) were considered eligible. Primary outcome was the incidence of SSIs in infants. SSIs were categorized in wound infection, wound dehiscence, anastomotic leakage, postoperative peritonitis, and fistula development. Secondary outcome was the incidence of different forms of SSIs depending on the type of birth defect. Meta-analysis was performed pooling reported incidences in total and per birth defect separately.

RESULTS

154 studies, representing 11,786 patients were included. The overall pooled percentage of wound infections after abdominal birth defect surgery was 6% (95%-CI:0.05-0.07) ranging from 1% (95% CI:0.00-0.05) for choledochal cyst surgery to 10% (95%-CI:0.06-0.15) after gastroschisis surgery. Wound dehiscence occurred in 4% (95%-CI:0.03-0.07) of the infants, ranging from 1% (95%-CI:0.00-0.03) after surgery for duodenal obstruction to 6% (95%-CI:0.04-0.08) after surgery for gastroschisis. Anastomotic leakage had an overall pooled percentage of 3% (95%-CI:0.02-0.05), ranging from 1% (95%-CI:0.00-0.04) after surgery for duodenal obstruction to 14% (95% CI:0.06-0.27) after colon atresia surgery. Postoperative peritonitis and fistula development could not be specified per birth defect and had an overall pooled percentage of 3% (95%-CI:0.01-0.09) and 2% (95%-CI:0.01-0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

This review has systematically shown that SSIs are common after correction for abdominal birth defects and that the distribution of SSI differs between birth defects.

[Anorectal malformations: a 6-years review at the University Clinics of Lubumbashi]

Les malformations anorectales (MAR) sont des dysgénésies de la filière anogénitale comprenant plusieurs variétés anatomopathologiques. Leur diagnostic précoce permet une prise en charge précoce, laquelle réduit la morbi-mortalité y associée, surtout dans les pays en développement. L´objectif de cette étude est d´analyser les aspects épidémio-cliniques, thérapeutiques et évolutifs des malformations anorectales (MAR) aux Cliniques Universitaires de Lubumbashi. Il s´agit d´une étude descriptive transversale, ayant concerné 24 patients de 0 à 1 an admis dans notre service pour MAR. Sont exclus para cliniques dans notre série, les patients âgés de plus d'une année et non porteurs des examens demandés. Les données ont été recueillies sur base d´une fiche d´enquête reprenant les différents paramètres: l´âge au moment de la consultation, le sexe, le poids de naissance, la circonstance de découverte, la variété anatomique, le type de traitement et évolution des malades. La fréquence était de 24 cas (20,68%) des MAR sur 116 cas des malformations congénitales. L´âge médian était de 2 jours, le sexe-ratio de 1/3 en faveur des filles. L´occlusion intestinale était le diagnostic à l´admission le plus fréquent (50%). Les MAR basses étaient les plus fréquentes (11 patients soit 45,7%) dont 10 sans fistule. L´atrésie intestinale a été la malformation associée la plus fréquente (3 patients). L´anoplastie par abaissement abdomino-périnéal couplée aux dilatations anales postopératoires a été faite chez 13 patients, soit dans 54,1% des cas. Six patients sont décédés de causes inconnues et 6 autres ont été perdus de vues. Pour le résultat fonctionnel, sur les 12 des 24 patients pris en charge qui se sont présentés à la réévaluation 3 mois après sortie de l´hôpital, 3 d´entre eux ont présenté des signes d´incontinence, et 9 d´entre eux étaient continents parmi lesquels 8 étaient diagnostiqués avec MAR basse et 1 avec MAR haute. Les MAR sont une réalité dans notre milieu, cependant, le diagnostic n´est majoritairement posé qu´au décours des occlusions intestinales. Le taux des décès reste élevé et des mesures devrait être prises pour permettre des évaluations à long terme, lesquelles sont encore difficiles à faire vu le nombre des perdus de vue.

Different Reaction Patterns of Caregivers of Children With Imperforate Anus: A Latent Profile Analysis

AIM

This study aimed to explore how different dimensions of caregivers' reaction shape their caring experience, and the factors associated with different reaction patterns.

DESIGN

A second analysis of a multisite cross-sectional study were conducted. Caregivers of children with imperforate anus (IA) were enrolled in three tertiary children's hospitals in Eastern China between November 2018 and February 2019.

METHODS

The caregiver's experience, stigma feeling, social support level and perception of uncertainty were assessed by Caregiver Reaction Assessment, Parent Stigma Scale, Social Support Scale and Parent's Perception of Uncertainty Scale accordingly. The demographic information of caregivers as well as the children's clinical data were collected. Latent profile analysis was conducted to determine different patterns of caregiver's reaction, and logistics analysis was used to explore the associated factors of the reaction pattern.

FINDINGS

A total number of 229 caregivers (median age = 30, quartiles: 28, 36) were included. Three distinguishable caregiving reaction types were identified (Class 1: low burden and high benefit, 4.8%; Class 2: moderate burden and benefit, 48.9%; Class 3: high burden and low benefit, 46.3%). In logistics analysis, the Class 1 and Class 2 were combined as one group due to the low population in Class 1. The marital status of caregiver (OR = 0.067, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.700, P = 0.024), IA type (OR = 1.745, 95% CI: 1.198, 2.541, P = 0.004), children aged > 2 years (OR = 3.219, 95% CI: 1.364, 7.597, P = 0.008), social support (OR = 0.907, 95% CI: 0.865, 0.951, P < 0.001) and perception of uncertainty (OR = 1.054, 95% CI: 1.026, 1.083, P < 0.001) were associated with different caregiver reaction patterns.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of the caregivers of children with IA experience reaction of high burden and low benefit, but considerable proportion of caregivers could benefit from the caregiving rather than burden from. Married caregivers may have more negative reaction, especially when children > 2 years and diagnosed with intermediate or high type of IA. However, increasing caregiver's social support and reducing perception of uncertainty may have the potential to modify their reaction pattern.