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Medical Treatment of Fecal Incontinence

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Abstract

Management of fecal incontinence (FI) should be based on a meticulous assessment of pathophysiology through both clinical and physiological diagnostic workup. There are cases with prevalently altered diet and hygiene. Very frequently, diarrhea and constipation can be found involved in the development and maintenance of FI [1-3], both in the presence or absence of other traumatic or nontraumatic causes. Consequently, in those cases, treatment must be directed toward cure of these dysfunctions, either as single-line or combined treatment. Little evidence exists in the available literature about medical therapy for FI; recently, a Cochrane Database Review high-lighted that “there is little evidence with which to assess the use of drug therapies for the management of fecal incontinence” [4]. Therefore, medical treatment in FI is debatable and often pragmatic.

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Ratto, C., Parello, A., Donisi, L., Litta, F., Doglietto, G.B. (2007). Medical Treatment of Fecal Incontinence. In: Ratto, C., Doglietto, G.B., Lowry, A.C., Påhlman, L., Romano, G. (eds) Fecal Incontinence. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0638-6_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0638-6_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0637-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0638-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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