Evaluation of Trans-Anal Endorectal Pull-Through Outcomes in Hirschsprung’s Disease in Different Age Groups: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

TL;DR

This study reviews the best age to perform a specific surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease, finding that surgery between 3 and 12 months is optimal.

Contribution

The study provides evidence-based guidance on the optimal timing for trans-anal endorectal pull-through surgery in Hirschsprung’s disease.

Findings

Short-term complications are more common in neonates, suggesting delayed surgery is better.

Surgery between 3 and 12 months is optimal, balancing complications and diagnostic accuracy.

No significant gender differences in surgical outcomes were found.

Abstract

The timing of trans-anal endorectal pull-through (TAEPT) for Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is controversial. Early endorectal pull-through avoids the occurrence of preoperative enterocolitis. However, delayed pull-through (≥31 days) enables postnatal maturation of the anal canal and sphincter complex. The aim of this study was to identify the best age to perform trans-anal pull-through according to the literature.

This is a comprehensive systematic review. All articles published from 2010 to 2022 were searched in the Web of Science, Ovid Medline, PubMed, CINAHIL, and Embase databases, using the keywords HD, delayed or early treatment, trans-anal pull-through surgery, age, sex or gender, complications and outcomes. Articles that met the inclusion criteria with good to fair quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment and low bias score in the Cochran collaboration tool were reviewed.

Sixteen studies were eligible to be reviewed. The overall results of this study showed that due to more common short-term complications at neonatal period and lower contrast enema diagnostic accuracy in determining the transition zone, it seems to be reasonable decision to postpone surgery until the child is several months old. There was also no difference in terms of complications and outcomes of trans-anal pull-through surgery between females and males.

It is not recommended to delay surgery too much for ages over 1 year. Ages between 3 and 12 months can be a good time for interventional treatment for HD.

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