Additional secure circular suture during sphincteroplasty - preliminary results on the efficacy of fecal incontinence surgery in urogynecological patients.

OBJECTIVES

The paper is a ten case series study presenting women with complex pelvic floor disorders involving fecal incontinence (FI) with stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. Our study aimed at ascertaining whether FI-induced sphincteroplasty with an additional secure circular suture around the external anal sphincter muscle (EAS) may improve long term success rates.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Twelve patients had scheduled urogynecological surgery and overlapping sphincteroplasty with the placement of an additional circular suture around the EAS. Of these, the status of ten women was established by way of the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score/Wexner Score before and about 70 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis of fecal incontinence score showed that patients were not completely cured from FI, but were significantly better (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

A circular secure suture around the external anal sphincter in FI patients may help to improve anal sphincter function.