Three-year-old girl 'escapes' congenital defect thanks to miraculous surgery.
After three years of living with an undiagnosed congenital defect, a 3-year-old girl can now have normal bowel movements like other children, thanks to a successful anal reconstruction surgery performed by doctors at Vinh City General Hospital.
Three-year-old NND from Kim Lien commune was brought to the hospital by her parents due to prolonged constipation, abdominal distension, and crying whenever she needed to defecate. The family stated that since birth, the child had been defecating through a small opening near the anus, which they thought was normal. Only when the child grew older, ate well, but had increasing difficulty defecating, did the parents take her to the doctor.
Through examination and imaging, doctors discovered that the baby did not have an anus in the correct anatomical position. Instead, there was a fistula to the skin – a type of hypospadias. For three years, the baby had to "live with" a makeshift passage for excretion – just enough to survive, but also silently causing a great deal of discomfort.
Anal reconstruction surgery is a highly technical procedure requiring absolute precision. The goal of the surgery is to restore the anatomical structure, reposition the anus within the sphincter muscle to ensure normal bowel function, and preserve the mucosa to minimize postoperative complications.
Thanks to the seamless coordination and solid expertise of the surgical team, the operation went smoothly. Currently, the baby's health is stable, recovering well, and able to resume normal activities.
Dr. Bui Danh Anh, Head of the General Surgery Department 01, said: "Congenital anal malformations are not uncommon. Some cases are overlooked because children can still defecate through the fistula, leading parents to be complacent. Therefore, parents need to observe carefully, especially when children are constipated, strain, or cry every time they defecate."
Advice for parents:
- Examine the anus of newborns immediately after birth.
- If a baby does not pass meconium within the first 24 hours, they should be taken to a doctor as soon as possible.
- If you notice your child exhibiting prolonged constipation, unusually small stool passages, or crying during bowel movements, you should take them to a specialized medical facility for timely diagnosis and treatment.
According to Doctor Anh, thebroadcast presently earlyBirth defects are a determining factor in treatment. With timely intervention, children can develop completely normally without lasting effects.
