A novel magnetic device to prevent fecal incontinence (preliminary study).
OBJECTIVE
In this research we propose an original magnetic device to strengthen the hypo-atonic anal sphincter and prevent fecal incontinence.


METHODS
The device consists in a couple of small magnetic plaques to be surgically inserted in the wall of the anal canal between the external and internal anal sphincters with the opposite polarities face to face, so that, attracting themselves, close the anal lumen. Three couples of magnets made of materials of different magnetic force (neodymium>ferrite>plastoferrite) were evaluated in each of three swine anatomical preparations by measuring the endoanal pressure with a manometric catheter, both before and after magnet implantation. The mean pressures obtained before and after magnet insertion were statistically compared with Student t test.


RESULTS
The endoanal pressure after the insertion of neodymium magnets was 79.7+/-13.1 (mean+/-SD), after ferrite magnets was 42.1+/-5.6 mmHg and after plastoferrite magnets was 21.6+/-4.6 mmHg, all of them significantly higher than the pressure recorded in basal conditions (1.72+/-0.71 mmHg).


CONCLUSIONS
This research demonstrated that the implantation of a couple of magnets in the wall of the anal canal is able to create a high pressure zone of a value sufficient to prevent fecal incontinence and that the strength of this "dynamic closure" can be modulated by using magnets of various attraction force, so allowing a "tailored correction" of the anal sphincter hypotension.
Bortolotti
Mauro
M
Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. bormau@tin.it
Ugolini
Giampaolo
G
Grandis
Annamaria
A
Montroni
Isacco
I
Mazzero
Giosuè
G
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008365:Manometry; D008422:Materials Testing; D009354:Neodymium; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011312:Pressure; D013552:Swine
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C001215:ferrite; D009354:Neodymium