Outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted surgery for total colonic aganglionosis using the Duhamel technique at the National Children's Hospital from 2013 to 2018

Objective: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted surgery for total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) using the Duhamel technique at the National Children's Hospital from 2013 to 2018. Methods: Medical records of thirty-three patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for TCA using the Duhamel technique at the National Children's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2018 were collected. Information on the surgical methods and short- and long-term outcomes was also collected. Results: The results showed that Laparoscopic-assisted surgery for TCA using the Duhamel technique had a mean surgical time of 148.6 ± 40.9 minutes (80–240 min). The mean resection of anastomosis was 18.7 cm (range, 5–50 cm), with no complications, and no intraoperative mortality was recorded. The mean hospital stay after surgery was 7.8 days (range, 5–7 days), and low rates of postoperative complications were recorded, with only 3% bleeding, 3% wound infection, and no postoperative mortality. The percentage of patients with good postoperative bowel function was 88.5%; only 11.5% had moderate outcomes, and none had poor outcomes. The rate of enteritis after surgery was 61.5%. Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted surgery for TCA using the Duhamel technique is a safe and highly feasible surgery with a short operative time and without complications or intraoperative mortality.