Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate long-term functional outcome and colonic motility in children who had undergone the Duhamel-type operation for Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR).
Methods: All patients (n = 91) who underwent the Duhamel or Lester Martin Modified Duhamel operation for HSCR from 1980 to 1991 were included in the study. Twenty-two healthy age-matched children were used as controls. Functional outcome was assessed by questionnaire (response rate 100%). Total and segmental colonic transit time (CTT) was determined using the saturation method (80% participation rate).
Results: Outcome scores were significantly worse in the study group for patients with rectosigmoid (RS, P < .001), long segment (LS, P < .001), and total colonic (TC) aganglionosis (P < .05), when compared with controls. The CTT was significantly prolonged in the RS group (P = .01) compared with LS, TC, and control groups; this was caused by prolonged "rectosigmoid" transit in the RS group compared with controls (P = .012). There was a positive linear correlation (P = .0002) between age and outcome score in patients with RS disease unrelated to CTT. Nine patients required a late long-term enterostomy. A satisfactory outcome (defined as outcome score > or = 10th percentile of the control group, and absence of stoma or requirement for major revisional surgery) was seen in only 42% of patients overall and in 79% of patients over 14 years of age.
Conclusions: The Duhamel procedure, in common with other pull-through procedures, is associated with significant long-term morbidity, the aetiology of which is poorly understood.