Rehbein's procedure for Hirschsprung's disease. An appraisal of 45 years.

A retrospective follow-up study of all children treated for Hirschsprung's disease over the last 45 years at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, Bremen was done to evaluate the results of Rehbein's procedure. A total of 416 children underwent Rehbein's lower anterior resection. The postoperative outcome was analysed in detail for early and late complications like wound infection, pelvic abscess, anastomotic stenosis, anastomotic insufficiency, postoperative enterocolitis, persistence of constipation, fecal and urinary incontinence, recurrent achalasia, need for reoperation, adhesion ileus and mortality. On the basis of the data analysed and review of literature it was concluded that Rehbein's procedure is a well-established method in the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease with excellent results and few complications.