Patient and surgeon ranking of the severity of symptoms associated with fecal incontinence - The fecal incontinence severity index

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate a severit y rating score for fecal incontinence, the Fecal Incontinence Severity Inde x. METHODS: The Fecal Incontinence Severity Index is based on a type X freq uency matrix. The matrix includes four types of leakage commonly found in t he fecal incontinent population: gas, mucus, and Liquid and solid stool and five frequencies: one to three times per month, once per week, twice per w eek, once per day, and twice per day. The Fecal Incontinence Severity Index was developed using both colon and rectal surgeons and patient input for t he specification of the weighting scores. RESULTS: Surgeons and patients ha d very similar weightings for each of the type x frequency combinations; si gnificant differences occurred for only 3 of the 20 different weights. The Fecal Incontinence Severity Index score of a group of patients with fecal i ncontinence (N = 118) demonstrated significant correlations with three of t he four scales found in a fecal incontinence quality-of-life scale. CONCLUS IONS: Evaluation of the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index indicates that th e index is a tool that can be used to assess severity of fecal incontinence . Overall, patient and surgeon ratings of severity are similar, with minor differences associated with the accidental loss of solid stool.