Complete separation of the urinary tract from proximal rectum during PSARP surgery: our experience with the noveltechnique

Anorectal malformation (ARM) is a frequently occurring surgical condition in neonates, with a prevalence of 1 in 4000 live births.1 In boys with this anomaly, the rectum and urinary tract share a common wall for some distance, often ending up in fistulous communication. The goals of definite reconstruction are to separate the rectum from the urinary tract without injuring the urethra and mobilizing the rectum to the perineum within the muscle complex. Separating the rectum and the urinary tract is the most critical part of this operation and is associated with a significant risk of urinary tract injury.2–5 The original procedure described by Peña and Devries involves multiple stay sutures on the rectal mucosa just above the fistula, lifting the mucosa and continuing a submucosal dissection up to the prostate, where the entire thickness of the intestine can be separated from the urinary tract.6 These stay sutures have the inherent risk of incorporating the urethra within and thereby injuring the urethra. Moreover, this submucosal dissection is delicate and requires master’s expertise to avoid urethral injury, which frequently occurs in boys with relatively benign lower malformation. However, a relatively significant space separates the rectum and the urinary tract proximal to the common sharing wall (figure 1). By first mobilizing the rectum proximally in an antegrade fashion and lifting it from the urinary tract with a loop, the posterior wall of the urethra, prostate, and bladder is easily visible. This also establishes a clear boundary between the rectum and urinary tract, making it possible to resect the fistula precisely without needing a traction suture . Figure 1 Distal loopogram showing retrovesical space. We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) for ARM between March 2021 and March 2023. The minimum follow-up was 3 months. Demographic and …