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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection
Published on: December 8, 2014
Is Sacral Nerve Modulation a Good Option for Fecal Incontinence in Men?
Charlène Brochard1, Diane Mege2, Valérie Bridoux3
1Department of Digestive Physiology and Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Rennes Pontchaillou, CIC1414, INPHY, INSERM U1241, University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France.
Objective:
The objective was to assess the efficacy and the safety of sacral nerve modulation (SNM) in men with fecal incontinence (FI) compared with those of SNM in women.
Method:
Prospectively collected data from patients from seven tertiary colorectal units who underwent an implant procedure between January 2010 and December 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Outcomes and surgical revision and definitive explantation rates were compared between men and women.
Results:
A total of 469 patients (60 men [12.8%]; mean age = 61.4 ± 12.0 years) were included in the study, 352 (78.1%) (31 men [8.8%]) of whom received a permanent implant. The ratio of implanted/tested men was significantly lower than the ratio of implanted/tested women (p = 0.0004). After a mean follow-up of 3.4 ± 1.9 years, the cumulative successful treatment rates tended to be less favorable in men than in women (p = 0.0514): 88.6% (75.6-95.1), 75.9% (60.9-86.4), 63.9% (48.0-77.3), and 43.9% (26.7-62.7) at one, two, three, and five years, respectively, in men; 92.0% (89.1-94.2), 84.2% (80.3-87.4), 76.8% (72.3-80.7), and 63.6% (57.5-69.3) at one, two, three, and five years, respectively, in women. The revision rate for infection and the definitive explantation rate for infection were higher in men than in women (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0024, respectively).
Conclusion:
Both short- and long-term success rates of SNM for FI were lower in men than in women. The revision and definitive explantation for long-term infection rates were significantly higher in men.
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