title: Patient-Controlled Biofeedback Device for the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Although biofeedback has been used as a first-line therapy for fecal incontinence, it is known to be time consuming and demands attendance to a hospital during the whole period of treatment. In this study, we describe a new biofeedback device specifically developed for home treatment of fecal incontinence, which consists of a microprocessor controlled unit able to register and store the anal pressure waves corresponding to exercises performed by patients at home. In order to test the new device, a pilot study including ten patients with fecal incontinence was conducted. Evaluation of patients before and after the biofeedback training showed significant improvement in manometric and clinical parameters of anal continence. The new method may improve compliance of patients with the training program and reduce their need to be supervised during the treatment. It might represent a new alternative for the treatment of fecal incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Coloproctology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, and Postgraduate Program in Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, sala (room) 600, Porto Alegre, RS, 90 035-903, Brazil. damin@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Damin
authors.affiliation: Division of Coloproctology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, and Postgraduate Program in Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, sala (room) 600, Porto Alegre, RS, 90 035-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hommerding
authors.affiliation: Division of Coloproctology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, and Postgraduate Program in Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, sala (room) 600, Porto Alegre, RS, 90 035-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Delber
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schirmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo R S
authors.initials: PRS
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danton P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Silva Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: André F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo R O
authors.initials: PRO
authors.lastname: Thome
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anal; Biofeedback; Fecal incontinence; Manometry; Quality of life