Fecal incontinence treated by sacral neuromodulation: Long-term follow-up of 325 patients

• Published in: Surgery 2017-04, Vol.161 (4), p.1040-1048
• Main Authors: Janssen, Paul T.J., MD, Kuiper, Sara Z., BSc, Stassen, Laurents P.S., MD, PhD, Bouvy, Nicole D., MD, PhD, Breukink, Stephanie O., MD, PhD, Melenhorst, Jarno, MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anal Canal - innervation; Cohort Studies; Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods; Fecal Incontinence - diagnosis; Fecal Incontinence - psychology; Fecal Incontinence - therapy; Female; Humans; Lumbosacral Plexus; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction - statistics & numerical data; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Sacrum - innervation; Severity of Illness Index; Surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0039-6060; 1532-7361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2016.10.038

Background Long-term results of large patient cohorts with fecal incontinence treated by sacral neuromodulation are limited. This study shows the long-term results after a mean follow-up of 7.1 years in 325 patients with fecal incontinence treated by continuous sacral neuromodulation. Methods All patients with fecal incontinence and eligible for sacral neuromodulation between 2000 and 2015 were evaluated retrospectively. Primary outcome was a decrease in episodes of fecal incontinence, which was defined as involuntary fecal loss at least once per week and documented by a 3 week bowel habit diary. Quality of life was assessed using the Short-Form 36 and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Score. Results In the study, 374 patients were included for sacral neuromodulation screening and 325 patients (32 male, 9.7%) received permanent, continuous sacral neuromodulation. Mean age was 56.5 years (17–82 years) and mean follow-up was 7.1 years (3.0–183.4 months). In the 325 patients with permanent sacral neuromodulation, fecal incontinence episodes decreased from a mean of 16.1 ± 14.5 to 3.0 ± 3.7 per 3-week period after sacral neuromodulation ( P