Anal Atresia in a Patient Who Had Undergone Hartmann Procedure

Background

Hartmann procedure can be used to treat rectal cancer and colonic perforation. The distal diverted intestinal tract is usually disregarded, while the proximal colon is diverted with a stoma. Postoperative risks associated with Hartmann procedure include inflammation and development of tumors in the diverted intestinal tract [1–4].

However, anal atresia has not been previously reported as a complication following Hartmann procedure. Anal atresia is usually accompanied by congenital malformations. Therefore, the occurrence of this complication after surgery is extremely rare. In fact, we could not find any previous case reports of acquired anal atresia. Herein, we report a very rare case of anal atresia following Hartmann procedure.

Case Report

An 84-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a persistent feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation. She had undergone Hartmann procedure for perforation of the sigmoid colon caused by a diverticulum at the age of 79 years without any major postoperative complications. After the surgery, there was no defecation or passing of flatus through the anus. She did not receive rectal stump washout. She had no history of anal disorders such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Physical examination revealed that the anus was closed and covered with normal, thin skin. Although labial adhesions were observed, neither the vagina nor the urethra was closed (Figure 1A) and the patient had no urinary symptoms. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed gas and stool retention in the diverted rectum (Figure 1B). We presumed that closure of the anus was the main reason for the feeling of incomplete evacuation, and surgery was considered necessary to open the closed anus. Surgery was performed in the lithotomy position under spinal anesthesia. The skin covering the anus was incised and a probe was inserted. Digital examination of the rectum revealed normal mucosa and the presence of stool, which was extracted (Figure 2A–2C). At the end of the surgery, the anus was open and unobstructed (Figure 2D). The patient’s feeling of incomplete evacuation resolved immediately following the surgery, and there has been no recurrence of the symptoms. Despite labial adhesions, no urinary tract symptoms were observed during follow-up.

Discussion

Hartmann procedure can be performed for rectal cancer and perforation of the colon. About 40% of the patients who undergo Hartmann procedure have a permanent stoma either because of their condition or the progression of the disease or because of the patients’ request [5,6]. The distal diverted intestinal tract is usually disregarded, while the proximal colon is diverted with a stoma. Complications like inflammation and tumors of the diverted distal intestinal tract have been reported [1–4]. Diversion colitis, a histological diagnosis supported by endoscopic findings, is one of the relatively common and expected conditions of the diverted distal intestinal tract, and most cases are asymptomatic. It has been postulated that such chronic inflammation might increase the risk of malignancy. Hence, some authors have advocated periodic endoscopic evaluation of the Hartmann’s pouch even in asymptomatic patients [3,6–8]. However, there have been no reports of anal atresia following Hartmann procedure. Anal atresia is usually considered as a congenital malformation; therefore, this was an extremely rare case, as there are no previous reports of acquired anal atresia. Cases of labial adhesions have previously been reported [9], which can lead to obstruction of the urethra or vagina and cause dysuria or sexual dysfunction requiring treatment.

Patients with congenital anal atresia have thicker adhesions, and accompanying genitourinary abnormalities are often seen [10]. Non-congenital labial adhesions are usually caused by estrogen deficiency and usually occur in postmenopausal women and infants [11–14]. Chronic inflammation is another cause of labial adhesions, which can cause denudation of the epithelium and subsequent fusion of the labia during healing [8,9]. The labia can be separated by blunt or sharp dissection along the line of fusion under anesthesia to expose the vagina and urethral meatus [10].

In this case, we suspected that the skin of the anus might have contracted and closed the anus because the stoma obstructed the bowel passage to the anus. Moreover, elderly patients with estrogen deficiency and reduced physical function might have difficulty in maintaining perineal hygiene, potentially leading to inflammation-induced labial adhesions, which could have also caused both anal adhesions and atresia. Estrogen ointments are known to prevent the recurrence of labial adhesions [8,9]; hence, they might be effective in preventing anal atresia.

We followed up on this case for 6 only months after the surgery. Insertion of a finger bougie is likely the best treatment if anal constriction recurs; however, if recurrence occurs within a short interval, anoplasty might be necessary. Hence, long-term follow-up is important in this situation.

Conclusions

The patient’s feeling of incomplete evacuation resulting from anal atresia led to a reduced quality of life. The patient was immediately relieved of the symptoms after surgical intervention. Therefore, we consider this surgery to be an effective treatment for acquired anal atresia.