How to recover from fecal incontinence?

Written by Yang Dong
Colorectal Surgery Department
Updated on September 30, 2024
00:00
00:00

For fecal incontinence, we must first conduct an effective evaluation and complete relevant examinations. For instance, we need to perform anal canal pressure measurements and examine the anal sphincter muscle imaging. Through these examinations, we can determine the extent of fecal incontinence and then adopt corresponding treatment methods. For fecal incontinence, we can initially choose conservative treatments, such as treatment with biofeedback therapy.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
58sec home-news-image

Can fecal incontinence be recovered?

If fecal incontinence occurs, the first step is to identify the main cause of the fecal incontinence. If it is caused by relaxation of the anal sphincter and anal canal, then surgery can be performed to tighten this area, specifically through an anal tightening procedure, which can restore control over fecal incontinence. If the patient has other underlying diseases or is elderly and frail, accompanied by changes in the nervous system, the symptoms of fecal incontinence may be alleviated through medication or physical therapy, but complete recovery is unlikely. This is because the recovery of the nervous system requires the integrated regulation of other bodily organs and functions. If there are multiple underlying diseases or if the patient is elderly and frail, especially in the later stages of coma, recovery is difficult.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
48sec home-news-image

What should I do if spinal bifida causes fecal incontinence?

When patients with spina bifida experience fecal incontinence, it generally indicates that the condition is quite severe and often requires prompt treatment. Many of these patients have an overt form of spina bifida. In such cases, a localized bulging mass can be found at the lower back, possibly accompanied by protruding spinal cord, meninges, and nerve roots. For these patients, early surgical intervention is recommended. Clinically, surgery is usually advised to remove the bulging mass and effectively separate and release the adhered nerve roots. If possible, it is best to reposition them back into the spinal canal to achieve the surgical treatment goals. Such surgeries are generally recommended to be performed at well-known, top-tier hospitals locally.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
49sec home-news-image

Can fecal incontinence be cancer?

The most common causes of fecal incontinence are neurological dysfunction or relaxation of the local anal sphincter. In some cases of advanced rectal cancer, excessive tumor growth can enlarge the local intestinal contents, leading to involuntary expulsion of feces. Diagnosis involves further examination using electronic colonoscopy, digital anal examination, and assessment of neurological function. If the cause is related to a neurological disorder, treatment by a neurologist is required. If the cause is relaxation of the anal sphincter, then anal sphincter tightening surgery may be considered. In cases where fecal incontinence is caused by an intestinal tumor, surgery to remove the tumor is recommended, along with radiation or chemotherapy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
1min 2sec home-news-image

What causes urinary incontinence in the elderly?

Urinary incontinence in the elderly varies due to different mechanisms and types, with the two most common categories being genuine urinary incontinence, which is due to neurogenic bladder dysfunction or overactive detrusor muscles, damage to the urethral sphincter, or loss of bladder storage function. These are commonly seen in conditions like chronic stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and psychiatric diseases. The other major category is caused by relaxation of the urethral sphincter or pelvic floor muscles surrounding the urethra, leading to reduced urethral pressure. Incontinence in this category may occur when negative pressure increases, such as during coughing, sneezing, straining during bowel movements, or changing body position. This type of urinary incontinence is more common in elderly women and in elderly men who have had prostate removal, leading to damage to the external urethral sphincter.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
49sec home-news-image

Stress urinary incontinence clinical manifestations

The primary clinical manifestation of stress urinary incontinence is the leakage of urine from the urethra when sudden increases in intra-abdominal pressure occur, such as laughing, sneezing, or coughing. This condition is commonly seen in women who have given birth. It is mainly caused by the relaxation of the urethral sphincter and pelvic floor muscles after childbirth. The more childbirths a woman has, the higher the frequency of stress urinary incontinence. For mild symptoms, improvement can be achieved through pelvic floor muscle exercises. If necessary, medications such as Midodrine Hydrochloride tablets can be taken orally. For severe symptoms, surgery is recommended. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific circumstances.)