Hirschsprung Disease: Duhamel-Martin Experiences

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To present our experience about Martin modification of Duhamel method which is used in Hirschsprung's Disease treatment. METHODS: Between January 2012 and October 2017, patients which are diagnosed as Hirschsprung's Disease in our clinic were retrospectively evaluated according to age, sex, application time, symptom-signs, congenital anomalies, treatment methods, length of resected bowel, time of first post-operative defecation, duration of nasogastric decompression, first oral feeding time, postoperative complications, hospitalization time and morbidity-mortality. RESULTS: Of the 53 patients in the study, 38 were males and 15 were females. The most common cause of appy was chronic constipation (81%). 15% of the patients had additional congenital anomalies. 24% of the patients were younger than one month old. All patients underwent definitive surgery with Duhamel-Martin method. Mean bowel resection length was 21 cm. Defecation were observed after an average of three days after surgery. Follow-up period with nasogastric was four days on average. The aganglionic bowel segment was most commonly seen in the recto-sigmoid (71%) region. The most common postoperative complication was anal zone infections (25%). One patient died because of sepsis. The average length of hospitalization time was 17 days. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Due to the low morbidity and mortality rates in the Duhamel-Martin technique applied in the treatment of Hirschsprung's Disease, it has been a safe surgical method applied for years in our clinic.