Post Operative Anal Dilatations for the Prevention of Anal Strictures in Children With Anorectal Malformation: A Systematic Review
hosted by Dr. Lizzie Lee · StayCurrentMD
Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Talk to your (or your child's) care team about your situation.
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What the experts said
Routine anal dilatations after surgery for anorectal malformations have been standard since the 1980s
Stricture rates after anorectal malformation surgery range from 0 to almost 40%, even with the classic Pena protocol
Alternative methods like weekly dilatations or skipping dilatations altogether showed similar outcomes to standard protocols
There is insufficient high quality evidence proving that dilatations after anorectal malformation surgery are actually necessary
More randomized trials are needed to determine whether post-operative anal dilatations are necessary