Early definitive operation for patients with anorectal malformation was associated with a better long-term postoperative bowel function.

Purpose: In general, patients with anorectal malformation (ARM) undergo surgical treatment at around 6 months of age in Japan. We aimed to clarify whether the timing of a definitive operation affects the long-term bowel function.
Methods: Patient data were collected from 1984 to 2007. Fifty-two male patients with high- and intermediate-type ARM were enrolled. Patients were classified into two groups based on their operative period: the early group (EG) underwent anorectoplasty at < 5 months of age (n = 22); the late group (LG) underwent anorectoplasty at ≥ 5 months (n = 30). The bowel function was evaluated at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 years of age using the evacuation score (ES) of the Japan Society of Anorectal Malformation Study Group.
Results: The total score and four functional outcomes improved chronologically with age. The constipation score in the EG showed significantly better improvement in comparison to the LG. The total score and the incontinence score in the EG were significantly higher than those in the LG at 11 years of age.
Conclusion: The long-term bowel function in the EG was better than that in the LG. Anorectoplasty at an early age was important for achieving a better postoperative bowel function in ARM patients.