الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Fecal incontinence (FI) is defined as the involuntary passage of stools through the anus. Fecal incontinence is not a disease entity. It is as much a symptom as abdominal pain or per rectal bleeding The incidence of incontinence is uncertain both because there are few unselected epidemiological studies and because many patients are reluctant to volunteer information concerning impaired continence to the profession. Patients suffering from fecal incontinence are frequently social hermits because they are too embarrassed to discuss their problems with their friends or their physicians. They have been found to live in a restricted world, often describing it as being similar to imprisonment. The limits to their world are often dictated by access to toilets, the need to carry a change of clothing with them at all times, and attempts to conceal the problem from family and friends alike. Baseline evaluation of symptoms described by a patient presenting with FI is fundamental in order to establish severity of continence dysfunction. Thereafter, more information about the pathophysiology of FI can be gleaned from instrumental examination. The most appropriate treatment depends on the underlying disease. Clinical assessment of severity of faecal incontinence varies between clinicians according to their expertise. The aim of severity scores is two fold: they help determine symptom severity and allow comparison of results of the different available treatments |