Fecal incontinence: part 4 of a series of articles on incontinence.

Background: The aging of the population will make fecal incontinence an increasingly important socioeconomic problem in the coming decades. Already today, the cost to society of treating incontinence with inserts, diapers, and closed systems exceeds the total cost of all cardiac and anti-inflammatory medications.

Methods: This article is based on a selective review of the literature and on clinical experience.

[Fecal incontinence--operative treatment of a complex problem].

Anal continence is maintained by the controlled synergism of all parts of the complex anal sphincter system and the normal functioning of the preposed gut. Operative treatment may improve the function of a single part of the system. In case of malfunction of more than one element of the anal sphincter, an operation may result in partial improvement.