BIOFEEDBACK IS EFFECTIVE THERAPY FOR FECAL INCONTINENCE AND CONSTIPATION

Objective: To define the role of biofeedback in fecal incontinence and constipation. Design: A case series of patients with fecal incontinen ce or constipation with pelvic floor dysfunction. Setting: Tertiary ca re center with an anorectal physiology laboratory. Patients: Patients with 1 of the following: (1) chronic or acute fecal incontinence, (2) fecal incontinence and neurologic injury, or (3) constipation with pel vic floor dysfunction. Intervention: Electromyogram-guided biofeedback retraining of the pelvic floor. Main Outcome Measures: Resolution of electromyographic abnormalities and subjective resolution of fecal inc ontinence or constipation. Results: Of the patients with fecal inconti nence, 92% experienced significant improvement with biofeedback withou t significant improvement in electromyographic values. Of the patients with constipation and pelvic floor dysfunction, 80% experienced impro vement with biofeedback without significant change in electromyographi c values. Conclusion: Biofeedback is effective in selected patients wi th fecal incontinence and constipation with pelvic floor dysfunction.