Sphincter repair with a Silastic sling for anal incontinence and rectal procidentia

Sixteen selected patients with rectal procidentia, anal incontinence, or both were treated by the insertion of a Dacron impregnated Silastic sling at the Lahey Clinic between 1981 and 1984. The indications for operation were incontinence in 14 patients, procidentia with incontinence in one patient, and procidentia alone in one patient. No operative deaths occurred. Immediate complications included urinary retention in the three patients and hematoma in one patient. Late complications included infection, requiring removal of the Silastic sling in four patients; however, two of these patients underwent subsequent successful reinsertion of the sling after control of local sepsis. Among patients for whom follow-up data were available, satisfaction with the results of this procedure were excellent in two patients, good in six, fair in two, and poor in one. Sphincter repair with a Silastic sling is a safe, reliable alternative in the treatment of selected patients with anal incontinence or rectal procidentia.