Multimodal rehabilitation for faecal incontinence: experience of an Italian centre devoted to faecal disorder rehabilitation

• Published in: Techniques in coloproctology 2003-10, Vol.7 (3), p.139-147
• Main Authors: Pucciani, F, Iozzi, L, Masi, A, Cianchi, F, Cortesini, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anal Canal - physiopathology; Biofeedback, Psychology; Combined Modality Therapy; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Exercise Therapy; Fecal Incontinence - physiopathology; Fecal Incontinence - therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Manometry; Middle Aged; Rectum - physiopathology; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1123-6337; 1128-045X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10151-003-0025-5

Sphincter exercises and biofeedback therapy have been used to treat faecal incontinence but results have been unpredictable and standards of treatment have not yet been established. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of a new multimodal rehabilitation model on faecal incontinence. All of the rehabilitative procedures are guided by manometric data. Primary study outcome criteria were the determination of changes or deterioration in incontinence, failure to achieve full continence and/or presence of faecal urgency. The clinical outcome was designed according to the Jorge-Wexner incontinence score. Between 1997 and 2001, one hundred forty-nine incontinent patients (85 F and 64 M; age range, 41-73 years; mean age, 60.6 years) underwent multimodal rehabilitation at our outpatient unit. The overall mean incontinence score had significantly improved after treatment ( p