Atresia ani: definition, symptoms, causes, treatment • hello healthy

Definition

What is atresia ani?

Atresia ani (imperforate anus) is a congenital birth defect or disorder that usually occurs in infants. Atresia ani is a condition when the baby's anus is not formed properly or is abnormal.

The anus is the hole where the stool or feces leaves the body. This birth defect condition makes the baby's stool or feces unable to get out normally from the body.

Unlike babies in general, baby girls who experience atresia ani have the rectum, bladder, and vagina in the same large opening.

The large opening is called the cloaca. Atresia ani is a condition that starts to develop when the baby is still in the womb.

This condition for birth defects in babies usually forms around the 5th week of gestation until the 7th week of gestation.

Besides havingimperforate anusThe baby can also have other birth defects in the rectum at the same time.

Doctors will usually diagnose atresia ani immediately after the baby is born. This condition cannot be underestimated and must be treated as soon as possible.

How common is this condition?

Atresia ani is a birth defect that affects about 1 in 5,000 newborns, according to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

This condition tends to be more common in male babies than female babies.

Ani atresia is a congenital disorder that cannot be taken lightly because it can greatly affect the growth process of your little one.

Atresia ani can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of atresia ani?

Newborns who do not have a perfect anus will automatically have difficulty passing feces or feces.

Stool will still move towards the anus, but it is blocked because there is no way to get out of the body.

As a result, meconium or the baby's first feces seem "trapped" so that it remains in the intestine.

Over time, this condition can cause the baby to experience vomiting and swelling or enlargement of the stomach.

Launching from UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, in some cases of atresia ani, the rectum can change position until it is near the pelvis or near its normal position.

The rectum is an organ that acts as a passage for feces or feces to pass. The rectum connects the large intestine and the anus.

When parts of the intestines and bladder are connected to one another, the baby's stool or feces can be excreted or turned into urine.

Meanwhile, when the intestine and vagina are connected to each other, the stool or feces of babies with atresia ani will come out through the vagina.

These two conditions are particularly prevalent in female infants with one large opening (cloaca) of the rectum, bladder, and vagina.

Signs and symptoms of atresia ani

Broadly speaking, the common symptoms of atresia ani in babies are as follows:

Does not have an anal canal.
Having the anal opening where it shouldn't be, for example too close to the vagina.
There is a membrane covering the anal canal.
The intestine is not connected to the anus.
Having an abnormal connection between the rectum and the reproductive system and urinary tract (urination).
The connection between the intestine and urinary system is abnormal so that feces can pass through the urinary and reproductive systems such as the urethra, vagina, scrotum or the base of the penis.
Do not pass stool or feces in the first 24 - 48 hours after birth.
The baby's stomach appears abnormally distended, enlarged, or swollen.

Additional signs and symptoms

Some of the other additional disorders that can be experienced by babies with atresia ani are as follows:

Defects in the kidneys or urinary tract
Abnormalities in the spine
Defects in the throat or trachea
Defects in the esophagus or esophagus
Defects in the arms or thighs, which are conditions when the baby's body has excess chromosomes
Have Down syndrome
Experiencing Hirschsprung, which is a condition when nerve cells are lost from the large intestine
Experiencing duodenal atresia, which is the incomplete development of the first part of the small intestine
Have a congenital or congenital heart defect

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a certain symptom that your baby is experiencing, you should immediately consult a doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If you have concerns about the growth, development or appearance of certain symptoms in your little one, consult a doctor immediately.

The health condition of each person's body is different, including babies. Always consult a doctor in order to get the best treatment regarding the health condition of your baby.

Cause

What causes atresia ani?

The cause of atresia ani in infants is still not known with certainty. Atresia ani can be caused by a genetic defect.

This disorder occurs since the baby is still developing in the womb, or rather at the 5th week of gestation until the 7th week of gestation.

During this time, the baby's anus and digestive system are in the process of forming. Although relatively rare, the cause of atresia ani can be caused by genetic disorders or defects.

Furthermore, atresia ani is a birth defect that can be caused by a change or mutation of a gene. Changes or mutations in these genes can be related to environmental factors.

Some of the forms of atresia ani that can occur are as follows:

The rectum and large intestine may not be connected to each other.
The rectum can be connected to other parts such as the urethra, bladder, base of the penis, as well as the scrotum in boys and the vagina in girls.
There is narrowing of the anus or no anus at all.

Atresia ani is a birth defect in babies that can occur alone or in combination with other disorders.

Risk Factors

What increases the risk of developing atresia ani?

The gender of the baby can be a factor that increases the risk of atresia ani. This is because the condition of this birth defect is more experienced or about two times greater in male babies than female babies.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests to diagnose atresia ani?

Atresia ani in infants is a condition that is often diagnosed after delivery by carrying out a physical exam.

A physical exam is performed when the doctor covers the baby's anal canal is missing or is in the wrong position.

An abnormal connection between the bowel and bladder accompanied by the conversion of stool to urine also shows signs of atresia ani.

The doctor will examine the baby's stomach for signs of swelling. In addition, the doctor will also check the anal opening for signs of abnormalities.

To be more certain, doctors usually will carry out further examinations using x-rays (X-rays) and ultrasounds (USG) on the baby's stomach.

After diagnosing imperforate anus, it is important to do tests for other abnormalities associated with this condition.

Some of the types of tests that can be done include:

X-rays to detect spinal abnormalities.
Spinal ultrasound to detect abnormalities in the spine.
Echocardiogram to detect heart abnormalities.
MRI to detect defects in the esophagus, such as fistula formation in the trachea or windpipe.

What are the treatment options for atresia ani?

Surgery is required in most cases of atresia ani in infants to open the closed opening. Depending on the conditions, the surgeon will choose a suitable method, such as:

1. Colostomy surgery

This procedure is performed by doctors by making two small holes in the baby's stomach. Next, the lower intestine is attached to one hole and the upper intestine is attached to the other hole.

The hole is a pocket attached to the outside of the baby's body to accommodate the feces to come out.

2. Corrective operation

Corrective surgery in infants with atresia ani will be adjusted according to the severity of the condition.

Take for example the extent to which the position of the baby's rectum drops, what is the effect of the descending rectum with the surrounding muscles, and so on.

3. Perineal anoplasty surgery

This procedure is performed by doctors by closing if the rectum is connected to or attached to the urethra or vagina. The operation process is continued by making the baby's anus in a normal position.

4. Operationpull-through

This surgical procedure is performed by doctors by pulling the rectum down so that it is connected to the new baby's anus. As a result, this method can help the baby's feces to get out of the body.

The doctor will usually advise you to stretch the baby's anus at regular intervals. This procedure can be done for several months after surgery.

Home Remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat this condition?

Follow the doctor's instructions to treat the child's health condition after undergoing surgery. Long-term treatments that you can do in children with atresia ani are as follows:

Visit the doctor regularly to check your child's condition
Change the child's diet, activity level, and teach the child the habit of urinating and defecating to reduce constipation
Help your child learn how to use the anus he currently has
Use exercises to stimulate the nerves in the intestines
If needed, perform other surgeries to improve bowel control

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.