Abstract
Faecal incontinence is more common than many doctors expect. This month, Dr Tony Eyers outlines his approach for helping patients with this potentially distressing problem.
Article Extract
Remember
- Minor forms of faecal incontinence are very common and not always reported by patients.
- A loss of anal sphincter function will ultimately manifest itself as uncontrolled bowel motions or urgency. The patient’s regularity and ability to cope often determine which symptom dominates.
- Patients who have faecal soiling but are confident about their ability to hold on to a bowel motion or flatus tend to have simple anal pathology (such as haemorrhoids) rather than a deficient anal sphincter.
- Most idiopathic faecal incontinence is due to pudendal neuropathy, which is often believed to have been acquired during childbirth.