Treatment of Patients With Fecal Incontinence

Fecal incontinence (FI) is a devastating condition that causes psychological stress, shame, embarrassment, and social isolation. It has a major impact on quality of life of patients and their families. It complicates medical illnesses and management, has major economic consequences and can contribute to early nursing home placement. Although FI affects 2.2% to 11% of the general population, the magnitude of the problem is underestimated, since most patients do not discuss this silent affliction with their care providers. In uncontrolled studies of biofeedback for FI, including our preliminary observations in male veterans without anal sphincter injury, improvement was observed in up to 80% of patients. However, it may not be appropriate for all patients. One recent randomized, controlled trial in predominantly (93% women) female patients, many (\> 60%) with post-obstetrical anal sphincter injury, reports that biofeedback is no more effective than medical therapy alone. The trial provides data for the formulation of an evidence-based approach to treat FI in female veterans. There are no randomized, controlled data on the effectiveness of biofeedback for FI in male patients. A randomized, controlled trial is needed to assess the effectiveness of multi-component biofeedback therapy versus standard medical therapy in man. The immediate objectives of the current proposal are to evaluate the effectiveness of biofeedback treatment for FI and to identify baseline patient characteristics that will predict improvement and adequate relief in FI symptoms following treatment. This will lead directly to our long-term goal of providing optimal treatment for FI by tailoring biofeedback plus medical therapy to each patient's needs, based on sound clinical evidence. This project is a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing two treatments for FI among patients who have failed medical treatment under the care of their primary care providers and are referred for evaluation and management of current FI. As part of standard care, all referred patients will receive a history and physical examination, including medical, surgical, FI-specific symptoms and physical findings (general, mobility, mental status and anorectal examination). Those who meet inclusion criteria and who agree to participate will be randomly assigned to one of 2 study arms: 1. medical therapy alone, 2. medical therapy + sphincter strength + sensation + coordination training. Baseline data will also include adequate relief measure, incontinence scores based on bowel habit diary, anorectal parameters based on manometric and sensory testing, general and FI-specific quality of life, depression, anxiety, and expectation of improvement following treatment. All questionnaires will be based on published, validated instruments. Patients will be treated in six biweekly sessions (3 months). Medical therapy (six 40 - 60 minute sessions) includes advice, medication for constipation/diarrhea, and instruction related to empiric anal sphincter exercises (group 1). Biofeedback treatment (six 40 - 60 minute sessions) includes medical therapy plus all components of biofeedback (groups 2). Follow up data will be obtained in all patients at the end of treatment (3 months) and by mailed questionnaires at 12 months after completion of treatment or dropout. We can determine if biofeedback plus medical therapy will be superior to medical therapy alone in providing FI symptom relief. The possibility that more patients will report relief of FI symptoms when specific deficit(s) detected at baseline testing show(s) improvement with treatment. The influence of co-variables on results of treatment can also be determined. Our long term goal is to develop a clinically relevant strategy that will be cost-effect for the management of FI in VA patients (predominantly male) within the organizational frame work of primary and subspecialty care. If biofeedback treatment is proven to be effective, and VA patients can be offered therapy components with optimal likelihood of success, the obvious benefit to our VA patients is abatement of the silent affliction of FI and improvement in patient satisfaction and quality of life. Further study will focus on a multi-site cooperative study to assess which component of biofeedback is most instrumental in bringing about improvement and relief in patients with specific deficits.