Treatment of faecal incontinence with autologous expanded mesenchymal stem cells: results of a pilot study.

AIM: Management of faecal incontinence (FI) remains challenging because no definitive optimal treatment for this condition has yet been determined. Regenerative medicine could be an attractive therapeutic alternative for treating FI. Here, we aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of autologous expanded mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (AdMSCs) in the treatment of patients diagnosed with structural FI. METHOD: This was a randomized, multicentre, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study conducted at four sites in Spain with 16 adults with FI and a sphincter defect. Autologous AdMSCs were obtained from patients from surgically excised adipose tissue. These patients were intralesionally infused with a single dose of 4 × 107 AdMSCs or a placebo while under anaesthesia. We assessed the safety and feasibility of the treatment as the cumulative incidence of adverse events and the treatment efficacy using the Cleveland Clinic Faecal Incontinence Score, Faecal Incontinence Quality of Life score and Starck criteria to classify sphincter defects and anorectal physiology outcomes. RESULTS: Adipose tissue extraction, cell isolation and intralesional infusion procedures were successful in all the patients. There was only one adverse event connected to adipose tissue extraction (a haematoma), and none was associated with the injection procedure. There were no significant differences in any of the assessed clinical, manometric or ultrasonographic parameters. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that this infusion procedure in the anal sphincter is feasible and safe. However, it failed to demonstrate efficacy to treat patients with structural FI.

Negative pressure therapy as palliative treatment for a colonic fistula.

Colonic fistulas in an open wound are always a challenge for colorectal surgeons, and this report provides a technique for the appropriate management of these cases. We communicate the use of a negative pressure dressing therapy as part of the palliative care for a patient following the development of an enterocutaneous fistula. The use of this therapy allowed us to keep the patient clean and comfortable during the last few days of his life.