[3][4] The length of the common channel can be used to judge prognostic outcomes and technical challenges during surgical repair.

[5] This type of malformation happens when the embryonic anorectal and urogenital channels fail to separate during the sixth and seventh weeks of gestational development.

[7][8] Due to their complexity, cloacal malformations require multidisciplinary treatment from pediatric surgeons, urologists and gynecologists.

Children diagnosed with this condition may also have anomalies in other organ systems and will likely require several different types of reconstructive surgeries.

Common channels longer than 3 cm are generally considered more complex and more technically challenging in surgical repair.