Patient satisfaction after biofeedback for constipation and pelvic floor dyssynergia

Patients referred for chronic constipation frequently report symptoms of straining, feeling of incomplete evacuation, or the need to facilitate defecation digitally (dyschezia). When such patients show manometric evidence of inappropriate contraction or failure to relax the pelvic floor muscles during attempts to defecate, they are diagnosed as having pelvic floor dyssynergia (Rome I).

To evaluate long-term satisfaction of patients with pelvic floor dyssynergia after biofeedback.

Forty-one consecutive patients referred for chronic constipation at an outpatient gastrointestinal unit and diagnosed as having pelvic floor dyssynergia who completed a full course of biofeedback.

Data have been collected using a standardised questionnaire. A questionnaire survey of patients' satisfaction rate and requirement of aperients was undertaken.

Mean age and symptom duration were respectively 41 and 20 years. Half of patients reported fewer than 3 bowel motions per week. Patients were treated with a mean of 5 biofeedback sessions. At the end of the therapy pelvic floor dyssynergia was alleviated in 85% of patients and 49% were able to stop all aperients. Satisfaction was maintained at follow-up telephone interviews undertaken after a mean period of 2 years, as biofeedback was helpful for 79% of patients and 47% still abstained from intake of aperients.

Satisfaction after biofeedback is high for patients referred for chronic constipation and diagnosed with pelvic floor dyssynergia. Biofeedback improves symptoms related to dyschezia and reduces use of aperients.