Treatment of anal incontinence by an implantable prosthetic anal sphincter

Twelve patients with anal incontinence due to neurologic disease or failure of previous incontinence surgery underwent implantation of an artificial anal sphincter. The system used was a modification of the AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter. In two patients, infection necessitated removal of the system, and in four patients, eight revisional procedures had to be performed because of mechanical failure. After various modifications of the system, especially reinforcement of the closing mechanism of the cuff, only one case of mechanical failure has occurred. Erosion through the anal canal did not occur. Among 10 patients with the system in function for more than 6 months, the result was considered excellent in 5, with only occasional leakage of flatus, good in 3, who occasionally leaked liquid feces and flatus, and acceptable in 2, in whom the cuff obstructed defecation. It is concluded that implantation of an artificial anal sphincter is a valid alternative to permanant colostomy in patients with anal incontinence due to neurologic disorders and in patients in whom other types of incontinence surgery have failed.