Patient T.K.N (currently 7 months old, Ho Chi Minh City), when he had just been born, was clinically examined and screened for coordinated birth defects according to VACTERL syndrome and discovered a condition of hidden testicles. Based on the classification of Krickenbeck (Krickenbeck is an international classification system for anorectal and rectal deformities, born after the conference in Krickenbeck, Germany), the case was identified as belonging to the group of "Anorectal infertility without leakage". This is a rare defect with a rate of 1/4,000, requiring emergency surgical intervention and a complex treatment regimen with many stages.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Cam - Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), City International Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, within 24 hours of giving birth, emergency surgery was performed to create a temporary anus for the child. This intervention aims to resolve acute bloating, relieve stools, save the life of a child and give the child time to develop, gain weight to prepare for more complicated surgeries later.
After more than 3 months of traveling with a temporary anus, the patient was restored to the entire anus and rectum. The surgeon carefully peeled off the rectal bulb and shaped the "real" anus for the patient to conveniently use.
The biggest concern after this surgery is the risk of real anorectal narrowing. Right after the surgery, the child was able to get a real anctor with the No. 12 glasses easily, the journey for the child to the finish line will be an easy victory over the No. 14 anctor, added Dr. Hong Cam.
By September 6, 2025, when the child had reached more than 7kg, in good physical condition enough for major gastrointestinal surgery, the medical team performed the surgery at the end of the treatment process. The surgeon will reconnect the two temporary anorectal ends, remove the intestines from the abdomen and close the abdominal wall, and perform surgery to lower the left testicle to the scrotum on the same side at the same time to thoroughly resolve congenital problems.
"Within just 24 hours after surgery, the child had to go through the anorectum on his own, and the child was given food and drink by mouth smoothly. That shows that the intestines function well, there is no canker sores, no intestinal obstruction and no infection occurs. These are also the dangerous complications of gastrointestinal surgeries that the surgical team is most worried about throughout the treatment process, Dr. Hong Cam happily shared.
After 3 surgeries, the child is in stable health, following a strict schedule for requiring anorectal contractions to combat the natural trend of scar contractions, ensuring that the new anorectal tube is not narrow and operates effectively when the child grows up.
