ABSTRACT
Anorectal anomalies present with a spectrum of defects. At one end of the spectrum these include minor malformations that require minimal treatment and which usually render excellent results. At the other end of the spectrum, one can have a very sick baby with a very complex defect, which usually represents a very serious technical challenge in which the results in terms of bowel, urinary and sexual function are not good, in spite of the best efforts of a specialist. A newborn with anorectal malformation may represent a surgical emergency mainly because the baby may suffer from intestinal obstruction or, in addition, from severe associated urologic, gastrointestinal or cardiac defects which may require aggressive and efficient management to save the baby’s life. Other patients with these defects do not represent an emergency because they have a fistula that allows intestinal decompression; in these cases, the repair of the defect becomes an elective procedure.
