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Long-term results of biofeedback treatment for faecal incontinence: a comparative study with untreated controls
1Digestive Motility Unit, Digestive Diseases Institut, Hospital Clinic. Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. glacima@clinic.ub.es
Aim:
Long-term results of biofeedback for faecal incontinence are controversial. Moreover, its value compared with standard care has been recently questioned. The study aimed to analyse the long-term efficacy of biofeedback therapy for faecal incontinence to formed stool and to compare it with no treatment.
Method:
Seventy-nine patients with faecal incontinence to solid stool were evaluated at baseline and 1, 6, 36 and 60 months after treatment. To compare the long-term results with no treatment, 40 patients initially evaluated but not referred for therapy were used as controls.
Results:
More than 80% of patients recovered continence or had a reduction in the number of episodes of incontinence greater than 75% at 1, 6, 36 and 60 months, indicating that the success rate of biofeedback was maintained over time. At 60 months, 86% of patients treated with biofeedback were fully continent or had a > 75% reduction in the number of incontinent episodes compared to 26% of the untreated patients (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Biofeedback therapy is effective in patients with faecal incontinence to formed stool compared with no treatment. Overall, clinical improvement is maintained in the long term.
