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Does flatus incontinence matter?

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

This study aimed to determine whether incontinence to flatus is associated with women’s bother in a symptomatic population and with sonographically diagnosed external anal sphincter (EAS) trauma.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of women attending a tertiary urogynecological unit between May 2013 and November 2015. Baseline evaluation included a standardized interview with St. Mark’s Incontinence Score (SMIS) and visual analog scale (VAS) assessment for bother, as well as a physical examination and translabial pelvic floor ultrasound. At least one volume obtained covered the entire length of the EAS. These volumes were analyzed with the reviewer blinded to all clinical data.

Results

During the inclusion period, 1104 patients visited the unit. Fifty-three patients were excluded from the study for missing data, leaving 1051 for final analysis. Mean age was 57 years (56–58) and mean body mass index (BMI) 29.1 kg/m2 (28.8–29.6). The prevalence of any anal incontinence (AI) and flatus incontinence were 16.4% (172/1051) and 13.9% (146/1051), respectively. In the group of patients with AI, mean SMIS was 11.8 (11.0–12.6), and mean VAS for AI bother was 5.4 (5.0–5.9). Significant EAS trauma was detected in 9.8% (103/1051) of patients and was associated with flatus incontinence (p = 0.002). Including a flatus incontinence question in the SMIS questionnaire improved the prediction of patient bother from AI (R2 87.8% versus R2 86.3%, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Flatus incontinence is associated with ultrasound findings of EAS trauma and with higher patient bother from AI.

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Financial disclaimers

LC stay at the University of Sydney was partly supported by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen (travel grant K200218 N). HPD has received unrestricted educational grants from GE Medical in the past.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney Medical School Nepean, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, 2750, Australia

    Laura Cattani, Moshe Gillor & Hans Peter Dietz

  2. Department of Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Laura Cattani

  3. Kaplan Medical Centre (Affiliated to the Hebrew University and Hadassah School of Medicine), Rehovot, Israel

    Moshe Gillor

Authors
  1. Laura Cattani
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  2. Moshe Gillor
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  3. Hans Peter Dietz
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Correspondence to Laura Cattani.

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Cattani, L., Gillor, M. & Dietz, H.P. Does flatus incontinence matter?. Int Urogynecol J 30, 1673–1677 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3835-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3835-8

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