QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER DYNAMIC GRACILOPLASTY FOR FECAL INCONTINENCE - 1ST RESULTS

Quality of life was studied in 15 patients suffering from faecal incon tinence before and after dynamic graciloplasty (gracilis muscle transp osition around the anal canal and subsequent electrical stimulation wi th an implanted device). A comprehensive questionnaire (booklet) was u sed to assess the efficacy of anal dynamic graciloplasty in a prospect ive, longitudinal way. The data were stratified between patients who w ere operated on successfully (n = 9) and patients in whom the procedur e failed (n = 6). Quality of life increased with successful treatment. Unsuccessful treatment was associated with a temporary increase in de pression scores shortly after the operation. However, the preoperative levels were regained 6 months later.