[Biofeedback as a conservative treatment of fecal incontinence]

Faecal incontinence (SI) is defined as uncontrolled evacuation of stool in an inappropriate time or place, occurring at least two times a month. The other definition of SI is an inability to refrain from defecation till the moment thought to be appropriate from sociologic point of view. SI is an extremely stressful disease, which according to different sources, concerns about 2.5 to 7% of the adult population. The frequency of SI incidence raises with age, and it concerns about 60% of patients in geriatric health--care institutions. Nowadays there are many types of casual treatment of SI. One of the "first line" methods, if there is no extensive mechanical injury of sphincteric complex, is biofeedback (BF) training. In our study we presented principles of biofeedback treatment, a historical outline of the mentioned method and other conservative methods of SI treatment. We also presented, on the basis of literature, actual state of art concerning effectiveness and possibilities of therapeutic application of BF and results of clinical research, concerning application of BF training in faecal continence impairment in the adult population.