Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a bowel management program (BMP) in children with defecation disorders (DD) following surgery for anorectal malformation (ARM), based on changes in clinical symptoms, anorectal manometry (ARM) parameters, and quality of life.
Subjects and Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted on 44 pediatric patients with DD after ARM surgery, who received BMP intervention for 6 months. Key outcome measures included clinical symptoms, ARM findings, and quality of life scores assessed using the Bai Y scale.
Results: After BMP intervention, the proportion of patients achieving “good” or “very good” fecal continence increased to 59%, compared to 0% before the intervention (p < 0.001). Anorectal resting pressure and squeeze pressure both showed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001), indicating enhanced sphincter function. Quality of life scores improved markedly, with the total score increasing from 7.2 to 9.5 (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that reduced rectal perception (increased Vmax) was significantly associated with non-response to BMP (OR = 18.0; p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The BMP is an effective intervention for improving bowel function and enhancing quality of life in children with DD after ARM surgery.