Prevalence and Factors associated with Bowel Dysfunctions after Pull-Through Surgery in Children Diagnosed with Hirschsprung Disease.

Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence of bowel dysfunction and associated factors after pull-through surgery.

Methods: The medical records of children under 18 years old diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease (HD) based on histopathology between 2004 and 2022 were reviewed. Bowel dysfunction after pull-through surgery was categorized into Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC), constipation, and fecal incontinence.

Results: Among 97 children diagnosed with HD, the median age at presentation was 3 (2-15) days (84.54% male). The clinical manifestations included abdominal distension (58.76%), constipation (17.52%), bilious vomiting (17.52%), nonbilious vomiting (14.43%), and enterocolitis (12.37%). HDs were classified by the location of aganglionosis: short segments (74.23%), long segments (8.25%), total colonic (12.37%), and small intestinal (5.15%). Excluding surgical complications, the prevalence of bowel dysfunction was 64.95% during an average follow-up of 8.33 years. HAEC was the most common issue (46.39%), followed by nonretentive incontinence (22.68%), constipation (20.62%), and retentive incontinence (15.46%). Preoperative HAEC was significantly associated with post-surgery HAEC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 18.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-257.73; p=0.031). The Duhamel operation was associated with constipation and retentive incontinence (aOR 62.15; 95% CI, 1.64-2,349.13; p=0.026). Age under 6 months at pull-through surgery was associated with nonretentive fecal incontinence after 4 years (aOR 8.83; 95% CI, 1.11-70.39; p=0.040).

Conclusion: The prevalence of bowel dysfunction in children with HD remains high despite successful surgical correction. Preoperative HAEC, Duhamel operation, and pull-through surgery before the age of 6 months were found to be independent factors associated with bowel dysfunction after pull-through surgery.