Sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence and constipation in adults.

Background: Faecal incontinence (FI) and constipation are both socially-embarrassing and physically-disabling conditions that impair quality of life. For both, surgery may be required in a minority of people when more conservative measures fail. However, the invasiveness and irreversible nature of direct surgery on bowel and sphincter muscles, poor long-term outcomes and well-established compIications makes such procedures unappealing for these benign conditions.

Outcome of sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence in patients refractory to percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation.

Background: Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and sacral nerve stimulation are both second-line treatments for fecal incontinence, but the comparative efficacy of the 2 therapies is unknown. In our institution, patients with refractory fecal incontinence are generally treated with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation before being considered for sacral nerve stimulation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome associated with this treatment algorithm in order to guide future management strategies.

Advancement anoplasty and sacral nerve stimulation: an effective combination for radiation-induced anal stenosis.

Introduction: Pelvic radiotherapy can cause anal stenosis. Patients can be left with severe rectal evacuatory difficulties, anal fissuring and resistant faecal incontinence. The management of such patients is difficult since surgical treatment can worsen faecal incontinence.