Sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence related to obstetric anal sphincter damage.

PURPOSE: Sphincter repair is the standard treatment for fecal incontinence secondary to obstetric external anal sphincter damage; however, the results of this treatment deteriorate over time. Sacral nerve stimulation has become an established therapy for fecal incontinence in patients with intact sphincter muscles. This study investigated its efficacy as a treatment for patients with obstetric-related incontinence. METHODS: Fecally incontinent patients with external sphincter defects who would normally have undergone overlapping sphincter repair as a primary or repeat procedure were included. Eight consecutive women (median age, 46 (range, 35-67) years) completed temporary screening; all eventually had permanent implantation. RESULTS: Six of eight patients had improved continence at median follow-up of 26.5 (range, 6-40) months. Fecal incontinent episodes improved from 5.5 (range, 4.5-18) to 1.5 (range, 0-5.5) episodes per week (P = 0.0078). Urgency improved in five patients, with ability to defer defecation improving from a median of <1 (range, 0-5) minute to 1 to 5 (range, 1 to >15) minutes (P = 0.031, all 8 patients). There was no change in anal manometry or rectal sensation. There was significant improvement in lifestyle, coping/behavior, depression/self-perception, and embarrassment as measured by the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery fecal incontinence quality of life score. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral nerve stimulation is potentially a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for fecal incontinence in patients with de novo external anal sphincter defects or defects after unsuccessful previous external anal sphincter repair, although numbers remain small.

Neuromodulation for constipation and fecal incontinence.

The evidence is consistent with permanent SNM substantially improving continence in patients with severe fecal incontinence resistant to medical treatment. This treatment has been used in patients in whom a major surgical intervention would normally have been the next stage in treatment and the option of a minimally invasive treatment, with the added advantage of testing before definitive implantation, has the potential to have a major impact on this patient group. The results of the early case series examining the use of SNM for constipation are encouraging. Patients who have failed maximal medical treatment for constipation pose considerable clinical difficulties, with current surgical treatments requiring a bowel resection or stoma formation. If SNM proves to be of benefit to a proportion of these patients, this will be of considerable importance in terms of their future treatment options. Fecal incontinence and idiopathic constipation are both conditions in which conservative treatment is the mainstay of treatment in most cases,but for a small proportion surgical intervention is warranted. The surgical procedures available,however, have a considerable invasive component with often little guarantee of symptom resolution. SNM is becoming more widely used for patients with fecal incontinence as series sizes get larger and follow-up longer. Its potential benefit in constipation has been shown in pilot studies but larger trials are still required.

Sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence following a rectosigmoid resection for colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Following recto-sigmoid resection some patients may become faecally incontinent and remain so despite conservative treatment. This multicentre prospective study assessed the use of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in this group. METHODS: All patients had more than or equal to 4 days of faecal incontinence for solid or liquid stools over a 21-day period following recto-sigmoid resection for colorectal carcinoma. The operation had to have been deemed curative. They had to have failed pharmacological and biofeedback treatment. RESULTS: Three male patients met these criteria. One had had a colo-anal and two a colo-rectal anastomosis for rectal carcinoma. All patients had intact internal and external anal sphincters. Two patients had a successful temporary stimulation period and proceeded to permanent implantation. Pre-operative symptom duration was 1 year in the permanently implanted patients. They were followed up for 12 months. SNS improved the number of faecally incontinent episodes in both patients. Ability to defer was improved in both patients from 0--5 min to 5--15 min. The faecal incontinence-specific ASCRS quality of life assessment improved in all four subcategories. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SNS may be effective in the treatment of patients with faecal incontinence following recto-sigmoid resection if conservative treatment has failed.

Sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence following surgery for rectal prolapse repair: a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: A proportion of patients have fecal incontinence secondary to a full-thickness rectal prolapse that fails to resolve following prolapse repair. This multicenter, prospective study assessed the use of sacral nerve stimulation for this indication. METHODS: Patients had to have more than or equal to four days with fecal incontinence per 21-day period more than one year after surgery. They had to have failed conservative treatment and have an intact external anal sphincter. RESULTS: Four female patients aged 42, 54, 68, and 65 years met the inclusion criteria. Three of the four patients had had more than one operation for recurrent full-thickness rectal prolapse before sacral nerve stimulation, one of whom had undergone a further operation for recurrence following stimulation. One patient had undergone one operation for prolapse repair. The preoperative duration of symptoms was ten, eight, three, and nine years, respectively. Although patients had an intact external anal sphincter, one patient had a fragmented internal anal sphincter. The frequency of fecal incontinent episodes changed from 11, 24.7, 5, and 8 per week at baseline to 0, 1.5, 5.5, and 1 per week at latest follow-up. Ability to defer defecation was also improved in two of three patients who had this documented. Fecal incontinence-specific quality of life assessment showed an improvement in all four domains. CONCLUSION: Sacral nerve stimulation should be considered for patients with ongoing fecal incontinence following full-thickness rectal prolapse repair if they prove resistant to conservative treatment.