Objective To explore the relationship between postoperative defecation dysfunction and quality of life in children with anorectal malformation(ARM)complicated with spinal cord anomalies(SCA)and analyze the impact of different types of SCA on ARM patients in order to provide a reference for the early clinical identification of high-risk children with poor prognosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 282 ARM neonates admitted to our department between June 2015 and April 2021.Radiological examinations were applied to evaluate the development of the spinal cord,and Rintala score and the PedsQL 4.0 scale were employed to assess postoperative defecation function and quality of life,respectively.According to their SCA types and other complications,the patients were grouped.The relationship between these factors and defecation function as well as quality of life was then analyzed.Results Among the 282 subjected children,104(36.9%)had SCA.The incidence of SCA varied significantly across different types of ARM(P=0.002),with the highest incidence observed in vaginal fistula patients(100.0%)and the lowest in children without fistula(13.6%).Radiological findings revealed that sacral bone anomalies were common,with absent coccyx(62.7%)and vertebral anomalies(69.8%)being the most prevalent.The SCA group had significantly lower Rintala bowel function score(12.70±3.24)and PedsQL 4.0 quality of life score(81.42±5.03)than the non-SCA group(P<0.001).As the increment of SCA types,both the Rintala score and PedsQL 4.0 score were in a significant downward trend(P<0.001).Among the children with different types of SCA,those with tethered cord syndrome had the statistically lowest Rintala score(8.05±2.35,P<0.05).Meanwhile,their PedsQL 4.0 score(75.90±3.35)was significantly lower than those of other types except syrinx(P<0.05).Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that both SCA and sacral bone anomalies exerted notably negative impacts on the Rintala score and PedsQL 4.0 score(P≤0.001),with SCA having the most pronounced effect.Conclusion SCA is closely associated with postoperative defecation dysfunction and diminished quality of life in ARM children.The greater the type and number of SCAs,the worse the postoperative defecation function and quality of life.Early identification of concomitant SCAs holds significant clinical value for predicting postoperative outcomes in ARM patients.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the development of terminal rectal ganglion and spinal cord/sacral abnormalities in boys with complex anorectal malformations(ARMs)in order to improve the understanding of rectal ganglion development abnormalities in ARMs patients.Methods A retrospective trial was conducted on the male patients with complex ARMs admitted to our hospital from 2015 to 2021.The terminal rectal specimens were taken from them during anoplasty.According to the findings on development of terminal rectal ganglion after HE staining,the patients were classified into G1 group(ganglion cells observed)and G2 group(no ganglion cells observed).Imaging techniques were used to evaluate whether there were abnormalities in the spinal cord and sacrum,and their correlation with the terminal rectal ganglion development was analyzed.Results A total of 139 patients were enrolled,and their median age at anoplasty was 5.77(4.57,6.97)months.There were no significant differences between the G1(n=80,57.6％)and G2(n=59,42.4％)groups in ARMs pathological type(P=0.706)and age at surgery(P=0.140).Radiological findings showed there were 48 cases(34.5％)of spinal cord anomalies(SCA),25 cases(18.0％)of sacral abnormalities and 18 cases(12.9％)of coccyx abnormalities.No significant differences were observed in the incidences of SCA and sacral abnormalities between the G1 and G2 groups(P＜0.05).Moreover,the differences of fatty filum terminale and syrinx were statistically significant(P＜0.05).In addition,the ratio of sacrum to coccyx between the G1 and G2 groups were 0.72±0.10 vs 0.67±0.12(P＜0.05)of the anteroposterior position and 0.77±0.09 vs 0.72±0.09(P＜0.05)of the lateral position.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sacral abnormalities,fatty filum terminale and syrinx were independent predictors of rectal terminal ganglion absence in male patients with complex ARMs.Conclusion The development of terminal rectal ganglia in male patients with ARMs is closely associated with the abnormalities of spinal cord and sacrum.Sacral abnormalities,fatty filum terminale and syrinx are independent predictors of rectal terminal ganglion absence in male patients with complex ARMs.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of lateral femoral approach to continuous sciatic nerve block for patient-controlled analgesia after foot and ankle surgery.Methods One hundred American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged 18-60 yr,weighing 50-100 kg,with body height of 145-190 cm,scheduled for elective foot and ankle surgery,were divided into 2 groups (u =50 each) using a random number table:patient-controlled nerve block analgesia (PCNA) group and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) group.In group PCNA,the lateral femoral approach to sciatic nerve block was performed under the guidance of ultrasound and a neurostimulator,0.2％ ropivacaine 20 ml was injected after successful location,the catheter was inserted,and 0.2％ ropivacaine 10 ml was injected again.In group PCIA,0.2％ ropivacaine 30 ml was injected after successful location of the sciatic nerve.General anesthesia was performed using laryngeal mask airway in both groups.In group PCNA,PCNA was performed with 0.2％ ropivacaine (diluted to 200 ml in normal saline) at the end of surgery,and the PCNA pump was set up with a 0.5 ml bolus dose,a 15-min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 5 ml/h.In group PCIA,PCIA was performed with sufentanil 100 μg,tramadol 500 mg and tropisetron 10 mg (diluted to 200 ml in normal saline) at the end of surgery,and the PCIA pump was set up with a 0.5 ml bolus dose,a 15-min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 2 ml/h.The visual analog scale score was maintained≤ 3,and postoperative analgesia lasted until postopera-tive 72 h.When visual analog scale scores ≥ 4,tramadol 100 mg was intramuscularly injected as rescue analgesic.The requirement for rescue analgesia and development of adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting,insomnia,puncture site infection and bleeding were recorded within 72 h after surgery.Results The requirement for rescue analgesia and incidence of nausea and vomiting were significantly lower in group PCNA than in group PCIA (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion The lateral femoral approach to continuous sciatic nerve block can be safely and effectively used for patient-controlled analgesia after foot and ankle surgery.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of modified lateral approach to sciatic nerve block guided by ultrasound and nerve stimulator for foot surgery.Methods Sixty-two patients of both sexes,aged 18-60 yr,with body mass index ＜ 30 kg/m2,of ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective foot surgery,were included in the study.Anesthesia was induced with iv propofol 2-4 mg/kg and sufentanil 0.2-0.4 μg/kg.The laryngeal mask airway was inserted and the patients were mechanically ventilated.Sevoflurane was inhaled continuously.Modified lateral approach to sciatic nerve block was performed with 0.3 ％ ropivacaine 30 ml under the guidance of the ultrasound combined with nerve stimulator.Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg and propofol 1-2 mg· kg-1 · h-1 were administered after completion of sciatic nerve block.Additional sufentanil 0.10-0.15 μg/kg was intravenously injected immediately after skin incision and rocuronium 0.15 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 1 h intervals.The depth of puncture and time for puncture and success rate of puncture were recorded.Sensory block was assessed after the patients regained consciousness completely.Nerve injury,hematoma at the puncture site and infection within 72 h after surgery were recorded.Results The time for puncture was (40 ± 17) s.The depth of puncture was (5.8 ± 0.7) cm.The success rate of puncture at first attempt was 77 ％.The rate of complete sensory block was 100％.The post-operative follow-up showed that no patients developed nerve injury,hematoma or infection.Conclusion Modified lateral approach to sciatic nerve block guided by ultrasound and nerve stimulator is safe and effective for foot surgery.