[Results of spincteromyotomy in anal-spincter achalasia. Histology and postoperative continence].

Electromanometric studies were performed in a serie of 149 chronically constipated children. One third of the cases showed manometrically an organic and spincter achalasia. In the other two thirds the constipation was functional or psychogenic. In 73 patients a sphincter myotomy was performed. In 50 of these cases the histology of the internal anal sphincter taken by biopsy revealed a close relationship to the electromanometric results. Patients electromanometrically diagnosed at having an organic cause of the achalasia showed histologically in all except one, severe chronic inflammation, fibrosis, hyperplasia of the smooth muscle, or an absence of the ganglion cells in the upper part of the sphincter muscle. In 17 cases with a functional or psychogenic cause only one showed histopathologic findings. Of the 73 patients who were operated upon, 66 had excellent results. In 7 cases encopresis and constipation persisted. The reasons for this are discussed. Pre- and postoperative electromanometric measurements were performed in 30 children, postoperative measurements alone in 59 others. The most important electromanometrically criteria in evaluating the results of the sphincteromyotomy are normalisation of the anorectal pressure profile and the return of regular anorectal fluctuations. Signs of incontinence could not be observed.