Congenital Abnormalities of the Anus

Hall, Nigel and Kiely, E.M. (2014) Congenital Abnormalities of the Anus. In, Cohen, Richard and Windsor, Alastair (eds.) Anus: Surgical Treatment and Pathology. London. Springer London, pp. 49-60. (doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-091-3_5).

Abstract

Congenital anorectal malformations are rare but important. Each particular abnormality is unique with its own anatomical arrangement. These malformations occur in a spectrum ranging from relatively minor anal abnormalities to complex defects involving rectum, colon and urogenital systems. Corrective surgery will vary in complexity as a consequence. The most severe anomalies require a multidisciplinary team approach and staged episodes of reconstructive surgery. Given the varied nature of these anomalies, a detailed knowledge of anorectal embryology and pelvic anatomy is required by those managing these infants and children.

The aim of surgery is a normal bowel habit. A satisfactory surgical outcome is usually achieved, but the functional outcome is not always satisfactory. The more severe the abnormality, the greater the risk of deficient bowel control. This is partly due to abnormal development of the nerves and muscles providing bowel control as well as abnormal development of the distal spinal cord. This chapter describes the commonest anatomical variants of anorectal malformation as well as the treatment. We also describe the current knowledge of longer-term outcomes.

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Contributors

Author: Nigel Hall

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