Untreatable faecal incontinence: colostomy or colostomy and proctectomy?

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of rectal symptoms and secondary proctectomy in patients undergoing elective permanent end sigmoid colostomy for faecal incontinence and determine risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing elective end sigmoid colostomy for faecal incontinence at St Mark's Hospital between January 1991 and December 1998. Patients were divided into three groups: A, symptoms leading to subsequent proctectomy; B, symptomatic but avoiding proctectomy; C, asymptomatic. RESULTS: There were 44 patients (80% women, average age 57 years): Group A 12 (27%); Group B 13 (30%); Group C 19 (43%). Group A were on average younger than Group C (45 years vs 64 years, P < 0.05). No other risk factor for symptoms or proctectomy was evident, and in particular a prior history of obstructed defaecation/anal digitation was not related. Only half the patients undergoing proctectomy had histological evidence of defunctioned proctitis in the resected rectum. CONCLUSIONS: Data are insufficient presently to recommend primary proctectomy in this group of patients (even if it were to be performed laparoscopically).