Zainab H., 13

Zainab is a young girl full of ambition. She lives with her parents and siblings in a small family house. Mother is not gainfully employed. Father does any menial job he finds to support the family. Zainab goes to school however, she feels ashamed and has even started skipping the school because of her condition. Zainab was said to have been born with an absent anal opening and with an abnormal communication between her anus and her vagina, hence passing stool via the vagina since birth. She is diagnosed with imperforate Anus and in need of surgical corrections. This is quite essential that she receives the surgery as it will be life changing and can save her life.

Zainab was admitted in our facility with complaints of absence of anal opening noticed since birth and passage of feces via the vaginal opening. After proper evaluation, she was diagnosed with Imperforate Anus with Recto-vaginal fistula. She had surgery done successfully where anal opening was created and then fistula was repaired. Her postoperative period was good as no complication was noticed. She was later discharged home with oral medications following the improvement of her condition to complete her recovery and return to normal life.

Zainab's imperforate anus causes her to have an obstruction in the expulsion of intestinal contents unless in such conditions where there is abnormal communication with the vagina. An imperforate anus is treated with anoplasty, where an opening is created in the anus and fashioned to serve as the anal opening. While the rectovaginal fistula is closed since the anal opening has been created for the passage of the intestinal contents. With good surgery and post operative care, patient has a good prognosis and returns to normal function.