A laparoscopic pull-through operation for Hirschsprung's disease: report of two infant cases.

We describe herein a primary laparoscopic pull-through procedure that was successfully employed to treat two infants with Hirschsprung's disease. Mobilization of the rectum and sigmoid colon was performed laparoscopically, and the rectal mucosa was removed via a transanal submucosal resection. After inducing the rectal prolapse intussusceptically, the rectum was circumferentially transected, and the mobilized colon was pulled down through the rectal muscle cuff. Resection of the aganglionic bowel and the coloanal anastomosis, using the Soave-Denda method, was performed outside the anus. Both infants had an uneventful postoperative course with early recovery of bowel movement. Our experience demonstrates that this minimally invasive surgical procedure is feasible for young infants, and we believe that Hirschsprung's disease may be a definite indication for laparoscopic surgery.