[Conservative therapy and minimal invasive surgery for treating faecal incontinence]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Colorectal Surgery
• Pelvic Floor Disorders

Background:

• Faecal incontinence (FI) significantly impacts quality of life.
• Management strategies range from conservative measures to surgical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current management options for faecal incontinence.
• To evaluate the efficacy and indications for various conservative and surgical treatments.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on faecal incontinence treatments.
• Analysis of conservative therapies, minimally invasive surgical options, and their evidence base.

Main Results:

• Conservative measures like dietary changes, fiber, and biofeedback are first-line therapies.
• Sacral nerve stimulation is a well-documented treatment for FI.
• Other minimally invasive options like posterior tibial nerve stimulation and bulking agents have less convincing evidence.
• Magnetic anal sphincter implantation is reserved for highly selected patients.

Conclusions:

• Faecal incontinence management should prioritize conservative approaches.
• Minimally invasive surgical options, particularly sacral nerve stimulation, should be considered when conservative treatments are insufficient.
• Careful patient selection is crucial for surgical interventions.