[Assessment of anal incontinence in adults].
BACKGROUND
Anal incontinence is involuntary loss of stool and flatus through the anal canal. The condition can be severely debilitating to those affected.


METHODS
The article is based on relevant literature and the authors' clinical experience.


RESULTS
The first examination should include an anorectoscopy as part of a broader clinical examination, and the aim should be to find the cause and describe the condition. An assessment in hospital should comprise endoanal ultrasound for imaging and grading of the incontinence severity with a score system.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple preliminary investigations and eventually more specialized investigations in a specialist clinic give a good impression of the condition, and is the basis for choosing treatment and later evaluation.
Dehli
Trond
T
Avdeling for gastroenterologisk kirurgi Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge 9016 Tromsø. trond.dehli@unn.no
Norderval
Stig
S
Lindsetmo
Rolv-Ole
RO
Vonen
Barthold
B
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D019841:Defecography; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry; D011351:Proctoscopy; D014463:Ultrasonography