Imperforate anus

Definitions & Key takeaways

Imperforate anus is a birth defect in which a baby's rectum (the end of the large intestine leading to the anus) is malformed and the opening to the anus is missing or blocked. This means that stool cannot pass through the rectum and out of the body. As a result, babies with an imperforate anus must have surgery to create an opening for stool to exit the body.