Electrostimulation is not a clinically effective treatment of anal incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the manometric and clinical efficacies of electrostimulation to treat anal incontinence.


METHODS
Thirty-three women suffering from anal incontinence self-administered anal electrostimulation twice daily for 15-min intervals for 4 months.


RESULTS
After 4 months, the incontinence score decreased from 10.4+/-0.5 to 7.1+/-0.8 (P<0.001) but all patients except two remained incontinent The decrease in the incontinence score was more marked in patients receiving medical treatment for an associated bowel disorder, than in patients treated by electrostimulation alone. Anal resting pressures and the amplitude of voluntary anal contractions did not increase after 4 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrostimulation decreased the incontinence score but all patients except two remained incontinent after 4 months, suggesting that electrostimulation is not a clinically effective treatment of anal incontinence.
Leroi
A M
AM
Physiologie Digestive et Urinaire, Hôpital Charles Nicolle, Rouen, France. Physiologie.Digestive@chu-rouen.fr
Karoui
S
S
Touchais
J Y
JY
Berkelmans
I
I
Denis
P
P
D001003:Anal Canal; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans