NEW BIOFEEDBACK THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH ENCOPRESIS

Biofeedback therapy was performed in 13 patients with encopresis using newly devised computerized equipment. The patients were children, age d 6 to 11 years, who had not responded to trials of conventional thera py with a mean follow-up period of three years and two months. The bio feedback therapy was effective in 12 of the 13 patients after one cour se of therapy. This positive results was attributed to the computerize d equipment. The patients could more easily recognize how to squeeze t heir anal sphincters after seeing a colored ellipse representing sphin cter pressure on a monitor. The results of anorectal manometry and ele ctromyography (EMG) showed that biofeedback therapy improved the volun tary sphincter function and rectal sensation. Therefore, biofeedback t herapy might be effective in patients with encopresis whose sphincter functions are intact.