Frozen Section Doughnuts Obtained with a 5 mm Stapling Device Improve Outcomes in Laparoscopic Endorectal Pull-Throughs for Hirschsprung’s Disease

Abstract

Background:

A primary pull-through for Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) requires confirmation of normal ganglionic bowel by intraoperative biopsies to determine the level of resection. Despite this, aganglionic bowel that is not fully resected (so-called “transition zone pull-throughs”) is reported in 15%–19% of patients. We hypothesize that this may result from insufficient biopsies sent for intraoperative diagnosis.

Methods:

A new biopsy protocol has been developed in our institution for patients undergoing a laparoscopic-assisted endorectal pull-through for HD. Laparoscopic seromuscular biopsies are taken as per standard practice and are reported intraoperatively to identify the most distal site of ganglionic bowel. A 5 mm laparoscopic stapling device is used to divide the bowel at the proposed proximal resection margin and 2 cm distally. If there is any evidence of abnormality in the first doughnut, a second, more proximal doughnut is taken.

Results:

Between 2015 and 2020, 21 patients underwent a primary laparoscopic endorectal pull-through for HD using the doughnut biopsy protocol. Sixteen patients were male. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 3 months (range 1–6 months), and the mean weight at the time of surgery was 6.5 kg (range 4.1–8.54 kg). In all 21 cases, initial laparoscopic biopsies were reported showing normal ganglionic bowel; in two cases (10%), the laparoscopic doughnut influenced the proximal resection margin. In both cases, aganglionic tissue was identified intraoperatively in the doughnuts, and a second, more proximal doughnut was sent. No patients had transition zone resections on final histology (mean clear margin 45.55 mm, range 11–72 mm).

Conclusions:

In conclusion, intraoperative frozen sections taken from doughnuts of bowel retrieved using 5 mm laparoscopic stapling devices are safe and have resulted in a 0% rate of transition zone pull-throughs while reducing the potential of spillage of enteric contents. We would recommend this protocol for all patients undergoing primary endorectal pull-throughs.