• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Imperforate anus

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Anorectal malformation; Anal atresia

Treatment:

The infant should undergo evaluation for other abnormalities, especially genital, urinary and spinal. Surgical reconstruction of the anus is required. If the rectum connects with other organs, repair of these organs will also be necessary. A temporary colostomy is often required.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is usually good with treatment, depending on the exact anatomy of the birth defect. Some affected infants may never develop adequate bowel control, depending on the location of the defect.

Complications:

• Intestinal obstruction
• Bowel incontinence or constipation

Calling your health care provider:

This disorder is usually discovered when the newborn infant is first examined. Call your health care provider if a child that was treated for imperforate anus develops abdominal pain , or fails to develop any bowel control by the age of 3.

• Review Date: 8/11/2005
• Reviewed By: Joseph P. Hart, M.D., Marco Polo Traveling Fellow c/o Department of Vascular Surgery, A. Z. St. Blasius Hospital (Belgium). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.