Fecal continence and quality of life in adult patients with an operated low anorectal malformation.

Fecal continence and quality of life were evaluated by a questionnaire in 83 adult patients (mean age, 35 years; 53 women, 30 men) who underwent surgery for a low anorectal anomaly between 1947 and 1963. Fecal continence was assessed by a score described by Holschneider. Seventy-eight healthy people with similar age and sex distributions were used as controls. All controls had good fecal continence, 76% with completely normal bowel function. The aberrations in anal function found in 24% of the controls were minor, such as constipation or occasional slight smearing. Only 60% of the patients who had a low anorectal anomaly had good continence and completely normal bowel function was observed in 15%. Male patients had a slightly better outcome than females. Social problems related to deficient fecal control were reported by 39% of the patients. In addition, 13% of the patients had difficulties in sexual functions. Other health problems were reported by 52% of the patients. Social or sexual problems associated with anal function were not reported by the control population; 6% of them had other health problems. The present controlled study shows that at the adult age, a significant proportion of patients with low anorectal anomalies suffer from deficient fecal control and a diminished quality of life.     

Outcome of excision of megarectum in children with anorectal malformation

Background/Purpose

Megarectum in association with anorectal malformation contributes to chronic constipation and fecal incontinence. Resection of megarectum in anorectal malformation improves bowel function, but neuropathy and poor sphincter quality may affect the outcome of fecal continence adversely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of resection of megarectum in anorectal malformation and to ascertain the impact of anal sphincter quality and neuropathy on the outcome.

Methods

We studied 62 children with intractable fecal incontinence after repair of anorectal malformation between January 1991 and January 2005. All patients were investigated with anorectal manometry and anal endosonography under ketamine anesthesia. On endosonography, an intact or scarred internal anal sphincter (IAS) was classified as good and a fragmented or absent IAS as poor. On manometry, a resting anal sphincter pressure equal to or more than 30 mm Hg was classified as good and a lower pressure as poor. Functional assessment of fecal continence was done before and after excision of megarectum using a modified Wingfield scores.

Results

Sixteen children had excision of megarectum with median age of 9 years (range, 2-15 years) and postoperative follow-up of 5 years (range, 1-10 years). Seven had formation of antegrade continent enema stoma before excision of megarectum. Children were classified into three groups of anomalies: low (n = 6), intermediate (n = 4), and high (n = 6). All children were incontinent of feces. After excision of megarectum, of the 9 children with good IAS and no neuropathy, 7 became continent of feces. Of the remaining 7 children, 4 had poor IAS and 3 had neuropathy, 5 of whom required an antegrade continent enema stoma to be clean.

Conclusion

Excision of megarectum in children who had previous repair of anorectal malformation results in fecal continence in the presence of a good IAS and absence of neuropathy. Patients with a poor IAS or neuropathy will often require artificial means of fecal continence.     

Can fecal continence be predicted in patients born with anorectal malformations?

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with attaining fecal continence in children with anorectal malformations (ARM).MethodsWe performed a multi-institutional cohort study of children born with ARM in 2007–2011 who had spinal and sacral imaging. Questions from the Baylor Social Continence Scale were used to assess fecal continence at the age of ≥ 4 years. Factors present at birth that predicted continence were identified using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsAmong 144 ARM patients with a median age of 7 years (IQR 6–8), 58 (40%) were continent. The rate of fecal continence varied by ARM subtype (p = 0.002) with the highest rate of continence in patients with perineal fistula (60%). Spinal anomalies and the lateral sacral ratio were not associated with continence. On multivariable analysis, patients with less severe ARM subtypes (perineal fistula, recto-bulbar fistula, recto-vestibular fistula, no fistula, rectal stenosis) were more likely to be continent (OR = 7.4, p = 0.001).ConclusionType of ARM was the only factor that predicted fecal continence in children with ARM. The high degree of incontinence, even in the least severe subtypes, highlights that predicting fecal continence is difficult at birth and supports the need for long-term follow-up and bowel management programs for children with ARM.Type of StudyProspective Cohort Study.Level of EvidenceII.     

Fecal continence in patients having undergone posterior sagittal anorectoplasty procedure for a high anorectal malformation improves at adolescence, as constipation disappears

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Constipation is a major complication in patients who have undergone posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) operation for a high anorectal malformation. Overflow incontinence is the main cause of fecal soiling in these patients. The aim of this study was to outline the natural history of constipation in patients with high anorectal malformations and relate this to the functional outcome at the end of the patient's growth period. METHODS: The study group consisted of 22 pubertal or postpubertal patients (median age 15; range, 13 to 25) with high or intermediate anorectal malformations repaired by PSARP procedure. The patients have been followed-up since birth. Constipation was defined as a need to use medical treatment or diet to ensure bowel emptying. Continence was classified as follows: grade 1, no soiling in any circumstances; grade 2, staining less than once a week, no fecal accidents; grade 3, staining more than once a week, no fecal accidents; grade 4, daily soiling or accidents, need for regular enemas, or the antegrade colonic enema procedure. All patients underwent anorectal manometry and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine and spinal cord. RESULTS: At the time of the study 2 (9%) of the 22 study group patients had constipation, but 15 (68%) had been constipated before puberty. Eleven patients (50%) were fully continent (grade 1) without constipation. Six of those had a history of constipation associated soiling. Three patients (14%) had occasional staining (grade 2) and no constipation. Two of them had been constipated with significant soiling before the onset of puberty. In the 5 (22%) patients with frequent staining (grade 3) the degree of soiling had decreased after the disappearance of constipation. Two of the 3 patients with poor outcome (grade 4) require regular enemas for recalcitrant constipation. Spinal cord anomalies were detected in 4 and abnormal sacrum in 15 patients. Of the anorectal manometric parameters, only the force of voluntary sphincter squeeze correlated with the functional result. CONCLUSION: In the majority of patients who underwent PSARP procedure for high anorectal malformation, constipation disappears at adolescence, and this is associated with improved fecal continence outcome.     

Sacral ratio and fecal continence in children with anorectal malformations

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sacral ratio (SR) in patients with an anorectal malformation (ARM) and verify whether it has predictive value for fecal continence. PATIENT AND METHODS: From January 1990 to April 2002, 42 patients (aged 3-14 years) with an ARM and having already been operated on were reassessed and enrolled in the study. Patients with solid or paste-like stools but no soiling were deemed continent, those with similar stool and episodes of soiling partially continent, and those with no sphincter control, incontinent. The fecal continence was always analysed by the same observer. Sacral radiographic images were reviewed and the SR calculated from anteroposterior and images in the lateral position. All images were obtained before surgery and analysed by the same observer, while a third analysed the results. Results were considered statistically significant at P < 0.001. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were deemed continent, seven partially continent and 18 incontinent; there was no significant difference in SR among the three groups. When fecal continence was analysed in relation to changes in the findings on computed tomography of the lumbosacral spine, patients with sacral agenesis had a significantly higher frequency of fecal incontinence than the others, and all had a SR below 'normal'. CONCLUSION: Although the SR was different in patients with sacral agenesis it was no different in continent, partially continent or incontinent patients, and thus it is of no practical value in identifying patients likely to have fecal incontinence.     

小儿肛门直肠畸形术后排便障碍的原因及治疗

目的探讨小儿肛门直肠畸形术后排便障碍的原因及治疗.方法 1985年1月～1998年12月共治疗肛门直肠畸形120例,对106例进行随访,其中男性78例,女性28例,年龄4～14岁,平均年龄10岁,随访率为80%.结果 38例高位肛门直肠畸形(36%),术后均有排便障碍(100%);32例中间位肛门直肠畸形(30%),术后15例有排便障碍(14%);36例低位肛门直肠畸形(34%),术后有6例排便障碍(6%).结论在高位肛门直肠畸形的病人中,术后均无正常排便,这可能与同时伴有脊髓神经及脊柱畸形有关.中间位及低位肛门直肠畸形术后有排便障碍与外科手术技术有关.腹腔镜手术技术应用于中高位肛门直肠畸形的治疗,使术后排便障碍大大减少,从而大大地提高了病人的生活质量.     

Postoperative Fecoflowmetric Analysis in Patients with Anorectal Malformation

Because conventional methods of evaluating anorectal function do not necessarily provide good correlations between investigative results and symptoms in patients who have undergone surgery for an anorectal malformation (ARM), we recently introduced feco-flowmetry (FFM) to simulate natural anorectal evacuation. The purpose of this study was to embody significant parameters to elucidate the dynamics of anorectal activity on FFM. The parameters of FFM were compared with those of manometry and Kelly's clinical score (KCS) in 24 patients who underwent surgery for an ARM. There were three fecoflow patterns, namely, block (B) type, segmental (S) type, and flat (F) type. The B-type or S-type patterns were seen in patients classified as "clinically good." There were close relationships between the fecoflow pattern and both the operative procedure and the KCS (P = 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). Maximum fecal stream flow rate (Fmax) precisely reflected the tolerance rate of intended normal saline solution in the colorectum (TR), the evacuative rate (ER), and KCS. Fmax > 45 ml/s or TR > 70% or ER > 50% was statistically regarded as the borderline of fecal continence. Thus, the fecoflow pattern might reflect the motor activity of the pelvic floor muscle. FFM provided quantiative and qualitative evaluations concerning anorectal motor activity in patients who had undergone surgery for an ARM.     

Quality of life after total anorectal reconstruction: long-term results

The aim of the study was to assess the long-term quality of life (minimum 8 years after surgery) of patients undergoing total anorectal reconstruction for low rectal cancer. The quality of life of 27 patients undergoing total anorectal reconstruction (mean age: 73.07 years) and 27 healthy subjects (mean age: 73.50 years) randomly chosen from the population was analysed and compared using general standardized questionnaires and specific fecal continence scales. Twenty-one out of 27 patients were clinically evaluated and personally interviewed by the same surgeon who had performed the reconstruction some years before. Quality of life analysis yielded good global results, also in the light of the mean age of the patients. Fecal continence was obtained in 81% of patients. All of them report a good physical, psychological and social situation. There was no statistically significant difference (P = ns) in quality of life between these 27 total anorectal reconstruction patients and the control population. In adequately selected patients, total anorectal reconstruction is proposed as a technique capable of guaranteeing good quality of life as well as being a safe technique for the treatment of low rectal cancer.     

Results of levatorplasty for anal incontinence

Since the introduction of the levatorplasty, 44 patients were operated upon for anal incontinence on our service. In 31 patients, a levatorplasty was performed. The selection of the levatorplasty as operative procedure was based on the availability of a functional levator as demonstrated by physical examination, anorectal manometry, and defecography. The 31 patients ranged from infancy to 76 years of age and 30 of them were followed up to 7 years with an average of 3 years. In 18 patients with fecal incontinence following operative procedures for anorectal malformations, satisfactory continence was restored in 8, improvement was found in 6, and 4 patients remain incontinent. In 13 patients with incontinence following operative procedures or trauma, the postoperative results were satisfactory in 9 patients, 2 improved, and 2 failed. The review showed that the levatorplasty was most successful in patients in whom the revised but normally innervated levator replaces a destroyed external sphincter in the presence of an intact internal sphincter. Only one half of all patients with major incontinence following an operative procedure for anorectal malformations had an adequate levator that allowed successful restoration of function. The review showed that the levatorplasty can improve or restore anal continence in a variety of conditions in properly selected patients.     

Motility of the anorectum after “Rectoplasty with posterior triangular colonic flap” in Hirschsprung’s disease

Clinical assessment of fecal continence and anorectal manometry were carried out in 22 patients with Hirschsprung’s disease who had undergone “Rectoplasty with posterior triangular colonic flap”. Satisfactory postoperative continence was achieved in 18 out of these 22 patients. The result of anorectal manometry disclosed that normal rectal compliance (reservoir function of the rectum), together with normal resting pressure of the anorectum and rectoanal reflex, is indispensable for an adequate postoperative continence.     

Late presentation of a patient with an anorectal malformation (ARM)

Vestibular fistula represents the most common type of anorectal defect seen in girls with anorectal malformation. Adult presentation of this malformation is rare. The following is a case of adult presentation of anorectal malformation with a vestibular fistula in a 23 years old female, who came because of cosmetic and fertility concerns before her marriage. The patient complained of having an anorectal malformation since birth and passage of fecal matter through the fistula. The patient was continent for feces, but had leakage of flatus. She had no other associated anomaly. The patient subsequently underwent a surgical procedure where anal transposition was done with an intact skin bridge. Post-operatively, these developed an anal stenosis which was successfully treated through anoplasty, and the patient is now continent both for feces and flatus for the last 6 months.     

Physiologic determinants of nocturnal incontinence after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

The goals of the ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) operation are the construction of a fecal reservoir and the preservation of anal function, without compromising continence. Some of the patients are incontinent at night. The aim of our study was to identify the mechanisms responsible for nocturnal incontinence. We analyzed patients undergoing IPAA for ulcerative colitis, who underwent anorectal tests between 1993 and 1995. All patients were subjected to pull-through manometry and pelvic floor function studies, and 33 patients underwent overnight ambulatory manometry. Among 44 patients (27 men and 17 women), 22 had complete continence, whereas 22 had nocturnal incontinence. Mean age was 40±1 years. There were no differences with regard to sex, age, stool consistency, and ability to differentiate gas from stool between groups; only stool frequency was lower in the continent group (median [range] 6 [3 to 10] vs. 8 [5 to 25] stools/24 hours;P=0.011). Resting and squeezing anal canal pressure did not differ (P=0.42 andP=0.73, respectively). Resting, squeezing, and defecating anorectal angle, percentage of pouch evacuation, and perineal descent, all measured scintigraphically, did not differ between groups (allP>0.05). Ambulatory manometry showed that the mean anal canal pressure was higher in continent patients compared to incontinent patients, both during awake (88±11 vs. 62±8;P=0.032) and sleep (81±14 vs. 49±9;P=0.029) periods. The motility index was similar (awake,P=0.88; sleep,P=0.95), as was the number of episodes where the pouch pressure was greater than the anal canal pressure (P=0.28). In otherwise continent patients after IPAA, the combination of high stool frequency and low basal anal canal pressure may be related to nocturanal incontinence. Moreover, standard anorectal physiology tests cannot identify these subtle differences. Supported in part by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. Presented at the Thirty-Seventh Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, San Francisco, Calif., May 19–22, 1996.     

The effects of biofeedback training of pelvic floor muscles on fecal incontinence

Objective

The purpose of this study is to discuss the effect of pelvic floor muscle training on fecal incontinence.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed on patients who received pelvic floor muscle training from March 2002 to April 2007. There were 55 patients with fecal incontinence (male, 32 cases; female, 23 cases; mean age, 9.4 years old from 6 to 14), including 39 cases of anorectal malformation and 16 cases of Hirschsprung's disease. Pelvic floor muscle training was performed using biofeedback for 2 weeks in hospital, 2 times each day, and 30 minutes each time. The patients were then instructed to carry out self-training at home without the biofeedback device daily and received training evaluations in the hospital outpatient department monthly. All patients completed the training regimen and were followed up for 1 year. Anal manometry and clinical score were evaluated before and after training.

Results

Anal continence of 30 patients had satisfactory improvement, but not for the other 25 cases after training. The mean anal squeeze pressures of the group that had good results and the group that had poor results were 98.4 ± 7.3 and 47.4 ± 13.6 mm Hg, respectively, before training. There were 31 patients whose anal squeeze pressures were above 80 mm Hg, and 26 of these had satisfactory anal continence improvement, including all patients with Hirschsprung's disease. On the contrary, only 4 of 24 cases whose anal squeeze pressure was below 80 mm Hg acquired satisfactory anal continence improvement.

Conclusions

Pelvic floor muscle training could achieve good results in some patients with fecal incontinence. Baseline measurements during anorectal manometry appear to provide good prediction of prognosis and effective management.     

Therapeutic strategy in cloacal exstrophy

Cloacal exstrophy is a complex multisistemic anomaly that involves gastrointestinal and genitourinary issues. The aim of our paper is to report our experience in dealing with genital reconstruction and faecal and urinary continence in patients with female cloacal anomalies. We reviewed the clinical records from the three patients we have achieved a final reconstruction. We recorded the surgical management and both functional and anatomic results. The three of them required a bladder neck closure associated with a continent stoma, they are dry with intermittent catheterization and free of upper urinary complications. Genital reconstruction required a unique plan for each one, according to their anatomy and their cosmetic desires. One of the patients reported satisfactory sexual intercourse. Management of patients with cloacal exstrophy has major concerns about urinary and fecal continence and about genital reconstruction and function. Knowing the long-term results may help to develop management strategies and improve counselling for patients who have under-gone reconstruction.     

Appendicostomy stomas and antegrade colonic irrigation after laparoscopic antegrade continence enema

BACKGROUND: Children with spina bifida, high anorectal anomalies, or neuronal intestinal dysplasia who are treated with a laparoscopic antegrade continence enema to achieve a socially acceptable level of fecal continence sometimes have problems with the stoma and its catheterization. The goal of this study was to determine the nature and incidence of these problems, and their relationship to the underlying condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the hospital case notes of 74 consecutive patients who had a laparoscopic antegrade continence enema was undertaken. RESULTS: The laparoscopic antegrade continence enema procedure is well tolerated but is associated with a variety of usually minor complications including stomal stenosis, leakage, peristomal infection, granulation tissue overgrowth, mucosal prolapse, abdominal discomfort during irrigation, appendiceal false passage, and ineffective irrigation. Surgical revision of the stoma was required in 19% of the cases in this study, usually because of stenosis and skin overgrowth. Ongoing problems achieving colonic emptying were most likely to occur in patients with an anorectal malformation. CONCLUSION: Overall, the laparoscopic antegrade continence enema provides an effective method of facilitating emptying of the bowel. However, it has a high incidence of minor troublesome problems, with stenosis and skin overgrowth of the stoma being the most common. Younger children tend to have more complications and difficulty performing effective irrigation. Children with anorectal malformations were more likely to require surgical revision of the stoma, and often needed ongoing manual evacuation and bowel washouts despite the laparoscopic antegrade continence enema.     

Assessment and achievement of postoperative continence in imperforate anus

Functional results after surgical correction of anorectal malformations were assessed on a clinical basis following Kelly score, by manometric and radiologic studies. Sixty-five patients, older than 5 years, were personally interviewed and 51 of the 65 had manometric and radiologic studies to evaluate postoperative continence. Continent patients with high type lesions as well as those with low type lesions characteristically had a marked anorectal pressure difference and an acute anorectal angulation in the defecogram. On the other hand, in the patients with fair or poor results, neither a marked anorectal pressure difference nor anorectal angulation was found. These results indicate that achievement of continence in patients with a high type lesion treated by staged abdominoperineal rectoplasty depends upon bringing the terminal bowel down exactly within the sling of the puborectalis muscle.     

Anorectal Anomalies in Adults-Laparoscopic Management and Review of Literature

Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are one of the most common congenital anomalies dealt by surgeons. The reported incidence of ARMs range between 1:3,300 and 1:5,000 live births. These defects are invariably detected and treated in infancy or early childhood. There is a group of patients among these who have fistulous external opening from the rectum. These may not present in child hood and may continue to live with fecal incontinence till adult hood. One of such anomalies is rectovaginal fistulas which comprises of only 4% of all anomalies. Delayed management in such cases increases surgical and functional complications. Traditionally high and intermediate anorectal anomalies are treated by posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP). This involves cutting of sphincter muscles in the midline and then placement of rectum in the sphincter complex. The continence results of this operation are less than ideal. Laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through (LAARP) has potential advantage of precise placement of the rectum inside the sphincter complex without dividing and weakening the muscles, diminished soft tissue scarring around the rectum leading to improved rectal compliance. Three adult female patients with ARMs were managed through LAARP procedure. It involves dissection around rectum, identification and ligation of fistula tract, creation of neoanus and pull through of rectum into neoanus. Results-Continence was good in all our patients which they regained after 3 to 4?days of surgery. On follow up which ranged from 6?months to 2?years all were passing well formed stools 1?C2 times a day and have symmetric anal contraction with strong squeeze on digital rectal examination. Conclusion-LAARP offers an excellent option to the patients of ARM over conventional posterior sagittal anorectal approach because if its theoretical advantages of early recovery and better continence. Long term followup is needed to substantiate these results.     

Assessment of the continence status and patients’ satisfaction after retropubic radical prostatectomy: a questionnaire based study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the continence status and patients' satisfaction after retropubic radical prostatectomy by a self-administered questionnaire composed of 12 questions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 143 patients who underwent RRP operation at our department from 1992 to 2000 with a minimum 6 months of follow-up were assessed. Seventy two patients participated in the study. The continence status was classified as follows; patients who did not leak were considered as "continent", those who had leakage that occurred less frequent than or equal to once a day were regarded as "socially continent", and those who had more than once a day leakage were regarded as "incontinent". The correlation between urinary leakage, patients' satisfaction and pre-operative, peri-operative and post-operative factors were investigated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done using Fisher's exact, chi-square, Student's-t and logistic regression tests. RESULTS: The mean age of patients at surgery was 63.9 years (49-76) with a follow-up period of 37.1 months (6-97). Of these patients, 44% were continent, 48% were socially continent, 8% were incontinent. A total of 64 of 72 patients (89%) were satisfied with their final continence status, and 63 (87%) patients accepted to undergo the same surgery again if it is indicated. Pre-, peri- and post-operative factors did not influence the urinary leakage rates. Patients with nocturnal leakage, urgency, decreased urinary flow and patients who use pad (-s) were significantly less satisfied on univariate analysis, while only nocturnal leakage had a significant impact on patients' satisfaction on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Urinary leakage and patients' satisfaction rates after RRP were 56% and 89%, respectively. None of the factors could predict the post-operative continence status. When evaluating the patients' satisfaction, only nocturnal leakage was found to have an adverse affect on multivariate analyses.     

Fecal and urinary continence after ileal cecal cystoplasty for the neurogenic bladder

PURPOSE: In patients with a neurogenic bladder augmentation with the ileal cecal segment has generally been disregarded as an option due to concerns regarding fecal incontinence. We report our results using a hemi-Indiana pouch bladder augmentation for neurogenic bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of 63 patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction treated with a hemi-Indiana pouch bladder augmentation was performed. None of the patients had fecal incontinence before surgery. RESULTS: Median followup interval was 6 years (range 1 to 10). Etiology of the neurogenic bladder was spinal cord injury in 42 patients (66%), myelodysplasia in 18 (29%) and sacral agenesis in 3 (5%). One patient (1.5%) died immediately postoperatively from a pulmonary embolus. Of the remaining 62 patients, urinary continence was achieved in 54 (87%) and 8 were incontinent per the abdominal stoma. All 8 patients were treated with Contigen injections into the stoma and 4 (50%) became continent. The 4 patients with persistent urinary incontinence became continent after open surgical revision. Postoperatively, fecal continence was improved in 14 patients (23%), unchanged in 46 (74%) and worse in 2 (3%). In 2 patients with deterioration in bowel function stool frequency and fecal soilage increased in conjunction with antibiotic usage. No patient had chronic fecal incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: In select patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction ileal cecal bladder augmentation with a continent tapered ileal limb results in a 100% incidence of urinary continence with minimal alterations in fecal continence.     

Bowel function and fecal continence after Soave’s trans-anal endorectal pull-through for Hirschsprung’s disease: a local experience

The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative clinical outcome, colorectal function, and fecal continence score after Soave's transanal endorectal pull-through surgery (TERPT) for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) comparing them in preschool and school children with the results of younger children. This comparative retrospective study was done on 40 HD children treated over a period of 8 years from January 2001 to December 2008. Patients were classified into two equal groups according to their age: group I (n = 20) included children with age <6 months up to 42 months, and group II (n = 20) included children from 3.5 years up to 13 years. Demographic, clinical data, preoperative investigations, operative records, postoperative outcome and follow-up including defecation problems, fecal continence score rate (FCSR), anal manometry and electromyography were all reviewed. Obtained data were statistically analyzed using SPSS. Forty patients were included in this study, 28 males and 12 females with the male to female ratio of 2.3:1. The median age of the studied patients in group I was 8.9 months, while in group II, the median age was 65.95 months. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 18 to 24 months in group I with a mean of 21 months, while it ranged from 2 to 26 months in group II. In group I, most of children showed no abnormal defecation problems, 16 patients had excellent FCSR, 4 were having good FCSR and no poor continence score rate, while 3 patients suffered from constipation. Meanwhile, in group II, 15 patients showed excellent FCSR in 10 patients and 5 with good FCSR. While the rest of patients suffered from different abnormal defecation behavior that was constipation in 5 patients. The remaining 5 patients suffered from continence problems varying from fair in 3 patients (20%), with the remaining 2 patients having a poor continence score rate. It can be concluded that TERPT can be performed with some difficulties in older children; yet, the follow-up results are statistically low when compared with those patients who had undergone the operation at younger age.