Results of biofeedback therapy together with electrical stimulation in faecal incontinence with myogenic lesions

Reports about biofeedback therapy together with electrical stimulation with faecal incontinence are rare. This study is to investigate the effectiveness of biofeedback therapy in faecal incontinence patients with myogenic lesions.

One hundred and twenty-six patients with faecal incontinence caused by myogenic lesions were referred to this programme, comprising three sessions of supervised therapy in hospital followed by 2 months of home exercise. Biofeedback therapy methods that consist of strengthening muscles biofeedback, sensory discrimination biofeedback, synchronizing biofeedback, and electrical stimulation were selected to improve the programme. Clinical scores and outcomes of the anorectal function were assessed before and after the programme, and t test was performed for statistical analysis.

Before this programme, there were 19 patients with good clinical scores, 46 patients with fair and 61 patients with poor clinical scores. After therapy, 98 patients achieved good scores, 24 patients fair, and only four patients had poor clinical scores. The squeeze pressure and the sphincter electromyography amplitude were improved significantly, the rectal sensory threshold was decreased significantly, and 80 patients who previously had no external anal sphincter reflex acquired such a reflex. At the two-year follow-up, 60.2% (65/108) of patients maintained the clinical outcomes.

biofeedback therapy together with electrical stimulation is an effective method for faecal incontinence in patients with myogenic lesions. Patients should be offered this choice of therapy.