Rectal atresia: treatment through a single sacral approach.

Rectal atresia (with a normal anus) is a rare abnormality. A boy was operated upon successfully by using a single stage sacral approach, when he was 1 yr old. In the neonatal period he had a colostomy done for decompression. This colostomy was later useful in demonstrating the distance between the two blind pouches of the anal canal and the rectosigmoid segment. He is now perfectly continent without stenosis, 3 yr after the operation. If this procedure could be done in the neonatal period before the colon becomes very dilated, a long term colostomy might be obviated.