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"