ABSTRACT
Anorectal anomalies present with a spectrum of defects. This
spectrum extends from patients with minor malformations
that require minimal treatment who usually achieve excellent
surgical results, to patients who are very sick with a complex
defect. These more critical patients pose a serious technical
challenge, and typically do not achieve perfect bowel, urinary,
and sexual function despite accurate anatomic reconstruction.
A newborn with an anorectal malformation may represent a
surgical emergency related to intestinal obstruction or asso-
ciated urologic or gastrointestinal defects requiring aggressive
and efficient management. 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 can become an elective procedure or, if the baby is in
good condition, can be definitively managed in the newborn
period.
