Posterior myotomy/myectomy for persistent stooling problems in Hirschsprung's disease.

BACKGROUND: Hirschsprung's disease (HD) patients after pull-through (PT) may have recalcitrant constipation or recurrent enterocolitis (EC). Posterior myotomy/myectomy (POMM) are possible options for these problems. This study analyzed the outcome of POMM in HD patients post-PT.

METHODS: Records of 348 HD patients were reviewed, and 32 were found to have undergone a POMM post-PT (1981 to 2002). Outcomes after this procedure were assessed. Statistics used linear and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Of the 32 patients, 29 had complete records for analysis. Of those with pure constipation (12), 6 had aganglionosis post-PT. Of those with recurrent EC (17) only 1 had aganglionosis post-PT. POMM was performed at a mean of 3.1 years post-PT (11 myotomy, 18 myectomy). Average follow-up was 8.6 years (range, 0.7 to 21). Type of POMM had no correlation with overall functional outcome (P =.44). Of those with chronic constipation, 60% had good results after POMM; the remainder required a redo-PT or colostomy. Interestingly, most patients with retained aganglionosis and chronic constipation did not respond after POMM (83%). Of those with recurrent EC, 75% became free of symptoms; none of the patients not responding have required redo-PT.

CONCLUSIONS: POMM to treat chronic constipation or recurrent EC in patients with HD post-PT is moderately successful. Because of the unsuccessful outcome with POMM in patients with a combination of constipation and aganglionosis, one should defer to a redo-PT in this group.