Fecal Incontinence: Nonsurgical Management

Fecal incontinence is the uncontrolled passage of feces or flatus. It is a debilitating and often unrecognized condition whose prevalence is increasing with our aging population and often carries significant stigmata associated with decreased quality of life. It is also one of the leading causes of nursing home admissions in the United States. The etiology of fecal incontinence is multifactorial, with many risk factors contributing to this disease process. Treatment may be challenging and needs to be individualized. In this review, we discuss the initial evaluation of the patient presenting with fecal incontinence, adjunctive testing modalities, and nonoperative management. This review contains 6 figures, 2 tables and 50 references Key words: accidental bowel leakage, biofeedback, bowel incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic floor physical therapy, pelvic floor retraining

Fecal Incontinence: Nonsurgical Management

Fecal incontinence is the uncontrolled passage of feces or flatus. It is a debilitating and often unrecognized condition whose prevalence is increasing with our aging population and often carries significant stigmata associated with decreased quality of life. It is also one of the leading causes of nursing home admissions in the United States. The etiology of fecal incontinence is multifactorial, with many risk factors contributing to this disease process. Treatment may be challenging and needs to be individualized. In this review, we discuss the initial evaluation of the patient presenting with fecal incontinence, adjunctive testing modalities, and nonoperative management. This review contains 6 figures, 2 tables and 50 references Key words: accidental bowel leakage, biofeedback, bowel incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic floor physical therapy, pelvic floor retraining