[Diagnosis and therapy of fecal incontinence]

Fecal incontinence is not a diagnosis, but a symptom which can have multiple causes. The aim of any therapy should be to treat the underlying disorder. This requires a detailed diagnostic procedure in each patient. If no underlying disorder can be found, therapy becomes symptom oriented. Besides drug treatment anal biofeedback training is the most important form of medical therapy. Except for special situations surgery is indicated only if medical therapy has failed.