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Plugs for containing faecal incontinence.

Marije Deutekom¹, Annette C Dobben

¹Department of Social Medicine k2-207, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1105 AZ.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

|July 21, 2015

Summary

Anal plugs can help manage fecal incontinence when other treatments fail. While difficult to tolerate for some, polyurethane plugs offer better satisfaction and less loss than polyvinyl-alcohol types.

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Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Urology
Pelvic Floor Health

Background:

Faecal incontinence (FI) is a socially stigmatizing condition impacting quality of life.
Conservative and surgical treatments are not always effective for FI.
Containment products, such as anal plugs, offer an alternative management strategy for individuals with FI.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the efficacy and performance of various anal plug types for managing faecal incontinence.
To compare the effectiveness of different anal plugs against each other and against no treatment.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
Searched multiple databases including Cochrane, MEDLINE, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
Included studies involving children and adults with faecal incontinence using any type of anal plug.

Main Results:

Four studies with 136 participants were included, with significant dropout rates (35%).
Some participants achieved 'pseudo-continence' with short-term plug use.
Polyurethane plugs demonstrated lower reported plug loss and higher user satisfaction compared to polyvinyl-alcohol plugs.

Conclusions:

Limited data necessitates tentative conclusions regarding anal plug effectiveness.
Anal plugs can be challenging to tolerate but may be beneficial for selected individuals with FI.
The type of anal plug significantly influences its performance and user satisfaction, highlighting the importance of proper selection.

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