Effectiveness of anorectal biofeedback therapy for faecal incontinence: medium-term results

Abstract

The medium-term effectiveness of biofeedback training for faecal incontinence was studied. Seventy-eight patients with minor incontinence underwent 4 supervised biofeedback sessions, and were followed for a minimum of 2 years. Results were correlated to aetiology, severity, anorectal physiological and endoanal ultrasound measurements. Four weeks following completion of the sessions, 59 patients (76%) improved significantly, 13 (17%) did improved slightly and 6 (8%) not change. At latest follow-up (mean, 26.3 months), only 10 (13%) had regressed, but they recovered after repeat biofeedback. Incontinence associated with previous colonic and rectal resection or perianal surgery responded significantly better to the training than patients with primary neurogenic incontinence (p=0.001). Patients with endoanal ultrasound sphincter defects also did better than those with primary neurogenic incontinence (p=0.02). In conclusion, biofeedback training is an efficient therapy in the majority of patients with minor faecal incontinence.