Asiya A., 2

Asiya is 2 years old, she is living with her mother in a small community of Bauchi, the father has been away for about a year with the hope of finding a job to take care of the family. They don't have a home of their own, which made Asiya's mother to go back to her parent's house. Life has been very difficult for her and her child. Their source of water is from the tap, they have access to electricity but not stable. Asiya had colostomy when she was about 4 days old. She was to have Surgery to recreate the anus when she is one year old but they have not been able to raise the money for the surgery. Upon presentation at our hospital , and after further evaluation ,she was Diagnosed with imperforate anus with colostomy and is awaiting definitive surgery.

Asiya presented to our facility with history of absence of anus from birth, a condition called imperforate anus. She was planned for staged procedure which include fecal diversion (colostomy), creation of new anus (PSARP) and then reconnection of the the intestine (colostomy takedown). This enabled her to pass stool through the normal route. Asiya and her family were delighted and thankful to Helpster for the assistance. She is to continue with her medication and scheduled follow up visits.

The prognosis of imperforate anus largely depends on the type and severity of the malformation, as well as the presence of associated anomalies. She needs two surgeries to create the anus that is not formed and then to take down the intestine that is currently attached to her abdomen and connected to the new anus created after the wound for the first surgery heals. Without the surgery she faces risk of recurrent infection around the intestine, blockage or retraction of the intestine that is currently serving as her anus. With timely surgical correction, Asiya will achieve good outcomes and can develop near-normal bowel function. Low-type defects generally have an excellent prognosis, while high-type anomalies or those linked with spinal, urinary, or other congenital abnormalities may have more complex outcomes. With proper surgery, bowel training, and long-term follow-up, Asiya can lead healthy, productive lives.