ANNALS OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002, 15(2):164-169
SUMMARY
Between 1995-2001 79 patients with fecal incontinence (FI) were examined with endorectal ultrasound in our laboratory. There were 56 patients with a definite history of anatomic risk factors (congenital diseases, anorectal operation, difficult delivery, sexual abuse or other trauma). 11 patients had evidence of internal or external rectal prolapse. Endo- anal ultrasound revealed sphincter defects in 50 patients (44 internal anal sphincter (IAS) defects and 38 external anal sphincter (EAS) defects). Sphincter defects were found in 47/56 patients with a history of anorectal trauma and in 3/23 patients without a history of trauma. In 14 patients, no risk factor was identified. The etiology of FI was diagnosed as non-traumatic after endoanal ultrasound examination in 34 patients (6 patients with endosonographic evidence of sphincter trauma). The results of endorectal ultrasound had a significant impact in the subsequent management of FI (sphincter repair, muscle transposition, biofeedback training or prolapse repair).
