BACKGROUND. Many patients presenting with anal incontinence (AI) are frail, with attendant comorbidities precluding the use of complicated, expensive reconstructive techniques. In these cases, revisiting a simple approach-designed to provide some sort of effective barrier to stool-is worthwhile where the options include a customized peri-anal sling or the use of an anal plug. METHODS. Analysis ...

BACKGROUND Normal vaginal delivery can cause significant strain on the pelvic floor. We present a review of the current knowledge on vaginal delivery as a risk factor for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse compared to caesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHOD We conducted a literature search in PubMed with an emphasis on systematic review articles and meta-analyses. The search was co...

BACKGROUND Some patients with faecal incontinence are not amenable to simple surgical sphincter repair, due to sphincter weakness in the absence of a structural defect. AIMS To evaluate the efficacy and possible mode of action of short term stimulation of sacral nerves in patients with faecal incontinence and a structurally intact external anal sphincter. PATIENTS Twelve patients with faeca...

An anal fistula is a communicating tract between the inner anus or rectum and the external skin surrounding the anus. It causes chronic discharge of pus that typically has an offensive odor. The treatment of anal fistula has challenged physicians and healers for millennia. References to fistulous disease and use of both fistulotomy and seton can be found in the writing of Hippocrates, dating fr...

In this article, we propose a new surgical device for circumferentially excision of high anal fistulas in a minimally invasive manner. The new apparatus works on the basis of axially rotating and moving a tubular blade along a fistulous tract straightened using a rigid straight guidewire. As the blade moves along the tract, its sharp circular cutting edge circumferentially separates approximate...

Background—Some patients with faecal incontinence are not amenable to simple surgical sphincter repair, due to sphincter weakness in the absence of a structural defect. Aims—To evaluate the eYcacy and possible mode of action of short term stimulation of sacral nerves in patients with faecal incontinence and a structurally intact external anal sphincter. Patients—Twelve patients with faecal inco...

Faecal incontinence is a very debilitating problem. Many techniques have been proposed to treat this condition, with controversial results. Autologous transplant of fat tissue is an established procedure used for the repair of tissue damage, and recent studies revealed the potentiality of tissue regeneration by human adipose-derived stem cells. We treated this condition with the injection, in t...

BACKGROUND Fecal incontinence is a common and severely disabling disorder. For patients with severe fecal incontinence, surgery may prove to be the only adequate treatment option. METHODS This study reports on 43 patients that were treated with a prosthetic sphincter system between 2005 and 2009 in three coloproctological centres. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES complications, anal pressures before a...