title: Transanal irrigation is effective in functional fecal incontinence.
abstract: Functional fecal incontinence (FFI) is divided into cases related to functional constipation (FC) and cases without concomitant constipation termed functional non-retentive fecal incontinence (FNRFI). Transanal irrigation (TAI) is widely used in children with neurogenic fecal incontinence but is less studied in children with functional defecation disorders. The aim was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of TAI in the treatment of FFI. A retrospective study in 72 children (mean age 9.2 ± 2.2 years, 47 males) with treatment-resistant FFI was performed. All children accepted treatment and 35% (n = 25) were titrated to daily sessions. Of the 63 children who fulfilled the Rome III criteria of constipation, 46 (73%) showed full response with complete remission of incontinence episodes. Eleven (17%) showed partial response (≥50% reduction). Of nine children with FNRFI, four (44%) showed full response whereas two (22%) showed partial response. We found no significant difference in the reduction of incontinence episodes between the children with FC (87%) and children with FNRFI (68%) (p = 0.11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAI is an effective, well-tolerated, and safe choice in children with FC. No clinical parameters seemed to predict response to treatment. The number of children with FNRFI was low, but TAI seemed effective in this group of children. What is Known: • Functional fecal incontinence (FFI) is a frequent, chronic condition with significant impact on children's quality of life. • Transanal irrigation (TAI) is used in children with neurogenic bowel dysfunction but less studied in children with functional defecation disorders. What is New: • TAI seems an effective, well-tolerated, and safe choice in children with FFI due to functional constipation. • Albeit the number of children with functional non-retentive fecal incontinence was low in our study, TAI seems effective also in this group of children.
authors.affiliation: Center for Child Incontinence, Department of Paediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark. cecilie.siggaard@clin.au.dk.
authors.forename: Cecilie Siggaard
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Center for Child Incontinence, Department of Paediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamperis
authors.affiliation: HC Andersen Children Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Modin
authors.affiliation: Center for Child Incontinence, Department of Paediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Charlotte Siggaard
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rittig
authors.affiliation: Center for Child Incontinence, Department of Paediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rittig
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal; D002648:Child; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Children; Functional constipation; Functional fecal incontinence; Functional non-retentive fecal incontinence; Transanal irrigation