Biofeedback therapy is effective in patients with faecal incontinence. - GreenMedInfo Summary

ABSTRACT Aim: Long-term results of biofeedback for faecal incontinence are controversial. Moreover, its value compared to standard care has been recently questioned. The study aimed to analyse the long-term efficacy of biofeedback therapy for faecal incontinence to formed stool and to compare it with no treatment. Method: Seventy-nine patients with faecal incontinence to solid stool were evaluated at baseline and 1, 6, 36, and 60 months after treatment. Comparing the long-term results with no treatment, 40 patients initially evaluated but not referred for therapy were used as controls. Results: More than 80% of patients recovered continence or had a reduction in the number of episodes of incontinence greater than 75% at 1, 6, 36, and 60 months indicating that the success rate of biofeedback was maintained over time. At 60 months, 86% of patients treated with biofeedback were fully continent or had a >75% reduction in the number of incontinent episodes compared with 26% of the untreated patients (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Biofeedback therapy is effective in patients with faecal incontinence to formed stool compared with no treatment. Overall, clinical improvement is maintained in the long-term.