Proctoplasty

Proctoplasty is the plastic surgery of the anus or rectum. Reconstructive surgery and anaplasty are other broader terms for proctoplasty. Proctoplasty is performed predominantly on children born with ano-rectal anomalies. There are cases born without any opening at the anus. Congenital fistulae may be present in some infants. Surgery alone affords cure to cases of this nature. While cases born without any opening at the anus are treated as an emergency procedure, fistulae treatment can be delayed for about two to three years. For these cases, proctoplasty is an operation of choice, whenever possible.

Proctoplasty is also at times done during hemorrhoidectomy. Proctoplasty extends the removal of tissue higher into the anal canal so that redundant anal lining is also removed. Recently, transanal endoscopic assisted proctoplasty, which is considered as a safe procedure is adopted for anatomical reconstruction of the anorectum. In significant proportion of patients, it is also used for contemporaneous closure of the sigmoidostomy with imperforate anus without fistula. This is a novel surgical approach with less potential associated complications.