Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- obstetric trauma
- patulous anus
- weak squeeze pressure
Other diagnostic factors
- constipation
- urinary incontinence
- urgency
- passive leakage
- fecal seepage
- perineal scarring
- perianal fistulae
- rectal mass
- rectal prolapse
- abnormal perianal sensation
Risk factors
- female sex
- older age
- nursing home resident
- forceps delivery
- third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration
- episiotomy
- baby >4 kg or delayed second stage of labor
- occipitoposterior presentation
- iatrogenic sphincter injury
- multiple sclerosis/stroke/pudendal neuropathy/spinal injury
- infectious diarrhea or inflammatory bowel disease
- constipation/impaction
- rectal prolapse
- third-degree hemorrhoids
- congenital abnormalities of the anorectum
- dementia/learning difficulties
- pelvic radiation therapy
- diabetes mellitus
- central neurologic disease
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- examination plus endoscopy
Tests to consider
- anorectal manometry
- endoanal ultrasound
- endoanal MRI
- pudendal motor nerve latency test
- proctography
- stool culture
- rectal biopsy
- CBC
- CRP
Emerging tests
- transvaginal/transperineal ultrasound
Treatment algorithm
symptomatic but cause undetermined
symptomatic with contributing condition
constipation with overflow
spinal cord damage or neurogenic bowel disorder
external sphincter deficiency
internal sphincter dysfunction
intact sphincter complex
severe incontinence refractory to other treatments
Contributors
Authors
Steven Brown, MBChB, BmedSci, FRCS, MD
Consultant Surgeon
Department of Surgery
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Sheffield
UK
Disclosures
SB is an author of a reference cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Andrew Miller, MD
Consultant Colorectal/General Surgeon
Leicester Royal Infirmary
Leicester
UK
Disclosures
AM declares that he has no competing interests.
Steven Wexner, MD, FACS, FRCS, FRCS Ed, FASCRS, FAC
Chief of Staff
Chairman
Department of Colorectal Surgery
Cleveland Clinic
Weston
FL
Disclosures
SW was a member of the Scientific advisory board, has received honoraria, and is a consultant for GlaxoSmithKline.
David Hackam, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
PA
Disclosures
DH declares that he has no competing interests.
References
Key articles
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Faecal incontinence in adults: management. Jun 2007 [internet publication].Full text
Bordeianou LG, Thorsen AJ, Keller DS, et al. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the management of fecal incontinence. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. 2023 May;66(5):647-61.Full text
Arasaradnam RP, Brown S, Forbes A, et al. Guidelines for the investigation of chronic diarrhoea in adults: British Society of Gastroenterology, 3rd edition. Gut. 2018 Aug;67(8):1380-99.Full text Abstract
Thaha MA, Abukar AA, Thin NN, et al. Sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence and constipation in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Aug 24;(8):CD004464.Full text Abstract
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
Differentials
- Colorectal cancer
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Crohn disease
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Management of fecal incontinence
- Fecal Incontinence
More GuidelinesPatient information
Fecal incontinence
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