FECAL INCONTINENCE
What is Fecal Incontinence / Bowel Incontinence?
Fecal Incontinence is the loss of ability to control the bowel movements causing the fecals (stool) to leak unexpectedly from the rectum.
Causes
- Muscle damage- injury to muscles at the end of the rectum
- damaging of nerve that sense the stool in the rectum
- Rectum loses its storage capacity
- Surgery
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Haemorrhoids
When to approach the doctor?
If there are the following symptoms:
- Not being able to control the passage of gas or stools
- When you are not able to make it to the toilet on time
Fecal incontinence is often accompanied by other bowel Problems:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Gas
- Bloating
Diagnosis Tests:
- Digital rectal exam
- Balloon expulsion test
- Anal manometry
- Anorectal ultrasonography
- Proctography
- Proctosigmoidoscopy
- Endorectal ultrasound
- Colonoscopy
- Anal electromyography
- MRI
Treatment
- Anti-diarrheal medications
- Laxatives
- Change in diet
- Exercises to strengthen the vital muscles to control bowel movements
- Stool impaction treatment
- Pelvic floor muscle training
Surgery if the patient doesn’t responds to the other treatments
- Sphincteroplasty
- Treating rectal prolapsed
- Sphincter replacement
Post-treatment care is very important. Do not ignore the problem for the fear of embarrassment.
"Authored By Dr.Niraj Mahajan"