Treatment of fecal incontinence

Abstract

Most patients who undergo repair of an anorectal malformation (ARM) suffer from a degree of functional defecating disorder, and all suffer from an abnormality in their fecal continence mechanism. Approximately 25% of patients are deficient enough in these mechanisms that they are fecally incontinent and cannot have a voluntary bowel movement. The others are capable of having voluntary bowel movements, but may require treatment of an underlying dysmotility disorder, which manifests as constipation. This management is discussed in Chaps. 29, 30 and 33. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.