Faecal incontinence: Current knowledges and perspectives

Surgery for Faecal Incontinence

Diagnosing and managing faecal incontinence.

The aim of this review was to consolidate the impact of recent advances in investigation technology on the clinical diagnostic workup for faecal incontinence. A literature search was made with emphasis on the recent 15 years. The advent of imaging techniques, particularly endoanal ultrasound has improved the understanding of anal incontinence. Of particular significance was the much higher inci...

Faecal incontinence and functional constipation

There are grossly four elements to help control faecal continence: 1. Plug function Internal anal sphincter (IAS) plays a major role in acting as a plug at the final end of our gastrointestinal tract. It is innervated by our autonomous nervous system. External anal sphincter (EAS), puborectalis sling plus other pelvic floor muscle and haemorrhoidal cushings at anal canal also contribute. 2. Sto...

Prevalence of faecal incontinence.

SIR—Our paper on the prevalence of faecal incontinence [1] was published after Edwards and Jones’ similar study was accepted for publication in Age and Ageing [2]. Readers might therefore be interested in our findings which were not discussed in Edwards and Jones’ paper. The Tipping the Balance study included over 1600 interviews with people over 70 [3]. They were asked specific questions about...

Anal endosonography in faecal incontinence.