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Surgical Treatments for Fecal Incontinence

Sometimes, surgery may be needed to treat the underlying problem of bowel incontinence. As with any surgery, there is some risk when you decide to have any surgery. Complications such as infection and residual scars can make some patients worse than before surgery. There are certain forms of bowel incontinence that can only be treated by surgery. If the anal sphincter was damaged by childbirth, or if the patient suffers from rectal prolapse surgery may be indicated.

Sphincteroplasty is a procedure to repair a weak or damaged anal sphincter. The injured area of the muscle is found and removed from the surrounding tissue. Then the muscle is brought back into place and sewn with the ends overlapping. This procedure strengthens the sphincter muscle as well as tightens it.

Surgery may also be needed for rectal prolapse, hemorrhoids, or rectocele. Rectal prolapse is when a portion of your rectum is sticking out of your anus. It weakens the sphincter muscle. Chronic straining to move your bowels and constipation can cause the ligaments in your rectum to become stretched so they will not be able to hold your rectum in place. Rectocele is found in women who have their rectum protruding from the vagina. Acute hemorrhoids both internal and external can be treated by surgery to remove the hemorrhoidal tissue that is causing the incontinence problem.

Sphincter repair is a procedure when a muscle is taken from another part of the body, usually a thigh and wrapped around the sphincter. This form of surgery is used to restore muscle tone in the sphincter. A sphincter replacement may also be recommended to replace a sphincter that is badly damaged. The surgery includes inserting an inflatable cup implanted around your anal canal. Once the doctor inflates the cuff it keeps your sphincter shut until you feel the urge to defecate. When that happens, you can deflate the cuff with a small external pump and the stool is released. This will automatically reinflate itself after ten minutes. This allows plenty of time for your bowels to empty.

A colostomy is used as a last resort for treating fecal incontinence. It is only considered when all other treatments have failed. A colostomy is when your stools are diverted outside the body into a plastic bag. This hole is in the abdomen and the stools never reach the rectum. A special bag is used to collect and dispose of the waste material. A colostomy can be done temporarily until an infection or irritation of the bowels is corrected then the colostomy may be reversed. This allows the patient to live a normal lifestyle without the constant presence of the colostomy bag.

Finally, fecal incontinence may be treated by inserting small needles into your lower intestines and stimulated by a pulse generator. If this method helps, a permanent pulse generator can be implanted in your abdomen. These small wires and battery driven device creates electrical impulses that help stimulate the nerve and strengthen it to regain continence.