title: Neuromodulation for fecal incontinence: outcome in 16 patients with definitive implant. The initial Italian Sacral Neurostimulation Group (GINS) experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sacral nerve modulation appears to offer a valid treatment option for some patients with fecal incontinence and functional defects of the internal anal sphincter or of the striated muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with fecal incontinence (4 males; mean age, 51.4 (range, 27-79) years) with intact or surgically repaired (n = 1) anal sphincter underwent permanent sacral nerve stimulation implant. Cause was traumatic in two patients, and associated disorders included scleroderma (2 patients) and spastic paraparesis (1 patient); eight (50 percent) of the patients also had urinary incontinence, and two (12.5 percent) had nonobstructive urinary retention. All patients were selected on the basis of positive findings from at least one peripheral nerve evaluation. The stimulating electrode was positioned in the S2 (1 patient), S3 (14 patients), or S4 (1 patient) sacral foramen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 15.5 (range, 3-45) months. Mean preimplant Williams score decreased from 4.1 +/- 0.9 (range, 2-5) to 1.25 +/- 0.5 (range, 1-2) (P = 0.01, Wilcoxon test), and the number of incontinence accidents for liquid or solid stool in 14 days decreased from 11.5 +/- 4.8 (range, 2-20) before implant to 0.6 +/- 0.9 (range, 0-2) at the last follow-up. Important manometric data were an increase in mean maximal pressure at rest of 37.7 +/- 14.9 mmHg (implantable pulse generator 49.1 +/- 18.7, P = 0.04) and in mean maximal pressure during squeeze (prestimulation 67.3 +/- 21.1 mmHg, implantable pulse generator 82.6 +/- 21.0, P = 0.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuromodulation can be considered an option for fecal incontinence. However, an accurate clinical and instrumental evaluation and careful patient selection are required to optimize outcome.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal-Eporediensis-Centre, C. so Nigra 37, 10015 Ivrea, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ganio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ratto
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authors.lastname: Masin
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Luc
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Doglietto
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authors.lastname: Dodi
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authors.lastname: Ripetti
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authors.lastname: Arullani
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authors.lastname: Frascio
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authors.lastname: BertiRiboli
authors.forename: V
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authors.lastname: Landolfi
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authors.lastname: DelGenio
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Altomare
authors.forename: V
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authors.lastname: Memeo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertapelle
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carone
authors.forename: M
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authors.lastname: Spinelli
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authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanollo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spreafico
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authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giardiello
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Seta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000294:innervation*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome