Can biofeedback therapy improve anorectal function in fecal incontinence?
GROUND: Although biofeedback treatment ameliorates symptoms in patients with fecal incontinence, whether it improves anorectal function is unclear. AIM: To examine prospectively whether biofeedback therapy influences objective and subjective parameters of anorectal function and whether it improves outcome. METHODS: Nineteen consecutive patients (females = 17) with fecal incontinence for over 1 year, underwent a three-phase outpatient treatment program. This program consisted of pelvic muscle strengthening exercises (phase 1), 1-h biofeedback therapy sessions twice a week (phase 2), and reinforcement sessions at 6 wk, 3, 6, and 12 months (phase 3). The number of sessions in phase 2 were customized for each patient. Anorectal manometry, saline continence test, prospective stool diaries, and bowel satisfaction scores were used to assess the changes in bowel function before and 1 year after therapy. RESULTS: After biofeedback therapy, the anal squeeze sphincter pressure (p < 0.05), the dur
