Biofeedback conditioning for fecal incontinence

Twenty-one subjects suffering daily from fecal incontinence were treated with biofeedback training as a rehabilitative trial. Fifteen of these patients had incontinence following surgical interventions; the other six had senile incontinence. A device was employed to record the pressure existing at t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 69; no. 1; p. 29
Main Authors Berti Riboli, E, Frascio, M, Pitto, G, Reboa, G, Zanolla, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.1988
Subjects
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anal Canal - physiopathology
Biofeedback, Psychology
Conditioning (Psychology)
Fecal Incontinence - psychology
Fecal Incontinence - rehabilitation
Female
Humans
Male
Methods
Middle Aged
Postoperative Complications - psychology
Postoperative Complications - rehabilitation
Pressure
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Summary:Twenty-one subjects suffering daily from fecal incontinence were treated with biofeedback training as a rehabilitative trial. Fifteen of these patients had incontinence following surgical interventions; the other six had senile incontinence. A device was employed to record the pressure existing at the level of the anal canal and to stimulate the rectal ampulla to control the performance of the external anal sphincter and the sensibility of the rectum. Of the 31 treated patients, eighteen (86%) presented good results with satisfactory recovery of anal incontinence, and three subjects (14%) showed unsatisfactory results (more than one episode of incontinence monthly). Although both groups of patients showed improvement in external anal sphincter contraction, the sensibility of the rectum to endoluminal distention improved more in good responders. The employment of biofeedback training to obtain improvement of the threshold of rectal sensibility (minimal volume of endoluminal distention to produce the sensation of imminent defecation and external anal sphincter contraction) has proved useful in the rehabilitation of incontinent patients.
ISSN:0003-9993