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Assessment and Investigation of Fecal Incontinence and Constipation

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Contemporary Coloproctology

Abstract

Fecal incontinence and constipation are common conditions that have a significant impact upon a patient’s quality of life. The maintenance of continence and act of defecation result from the complex interaction of many factors that is reflected in the many different etiologies of fecal incontinence and constipation, and the many different investigations available. As with all medical practice, a thorough history and examination forms the solid foundation required to assessing such patients, with supplementary information from specialist tests being useful in some. The symptoms of both constipation and fecal incontinence may in a few be the presenting symptoms of a colorectal or anal neoplasm. Such a diagnosis should be excluded in the assessment and with appropriate investigations. The assessment of a patient with incontinence and constipation is described, followed by a detailed discussion of the most useful specialist tests of anorectal and colonic function.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pelvic Floor Service, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital South Manchester, Southmoor Road, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK

    Peter J. Mitchell M.D., FRCS & Edward S. Kiff M.D., FRCS

Authors
  1. Peter J. Mitchell M.D., FRCS
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  2. Edward S. Kiff M.D., FRCS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter J. Mitchell M.D., FRCS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundat, Sheffield, S5 7AU, United Kingdom

    Steven R. Brown

  2. Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, United Kingdom

    John E. Hartley

  3. Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom

    Jim Hill

  4. Hope Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Nigel Scott

  5. New Cross Hospital, Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP, United Kingdom

    J. Graham Williams

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Mitchell, P.J., Kiff, E.S. (2012). Assessment and Investigation of Fecal Incontinence and Constipation. In: Brown, S., Hartley, J., Hill, J., Scott, N., Williams, J. (eds) Contemporary Coloproctology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-889-8_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-889-8_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-888-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-889-8

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