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Biofeedback is effective therapy for fecal incontinence and constipation
1Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Objective:
To define the role of biofeedback in fecal incontinence and constipation.
Design:
A case series of patients with fecal incontinence or constipation with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Setting:
Tertiary care center with an anorectal physiology laboratory.
Patients:
Patients with 1 of the following: (1) chronic or acute fecal incontinence, (2) fecal incontinence and neurologic injury, or (3) constipation with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Intervention:
Electromyogram-guided biofeedback retraining of the pelvic floor.
Main Outcome Measures:
Resolution of electromyographic abnormalities and subjective resolution of fecal incontinence or constipation.
Results:
Of the patients with fecal incontinence, 92% experienced significant improvement with biofeedback without significant improvement in electromyographic values. Of the patients with constipation and pelvic floor dysfunction 80% experienced improvement with biofeedback without significant change in electromyographic values.
Conclusion:
Biofeedback is effective in selected patients with fecal incontinence and constipation with pelvic floor dysfunction.