Colorectal resection and anal anastomosis with an intraluminal stapler in Hirschsprung's disease.

Twenty patients aged 5 months - 4 years (mean 14 months) with Hirschsprung's disease were operated upon. In all cases a pull-through resection and stapled circular coloanal anastomosis was performed, in 11 with a single-stapling technique and in 9 with double-stapling. Isopaque rectography 4 - 10 days postoperatively showed an intact anastomosis in all 20 patients, i. e., there were no clinical or subclinical leaks. On palpation 4 - 6 weeks postoperatively, there were signs of stenosis in 4 patients. However, no. 9 - 11 Hegar dilators passed easily and there was no residual stenosis at follow-up 3 months after surgery. The technique can be recommended in children over 6 months of age.