Case History

• Mrs. HA, 33 year old woman with urge incontinence following traumatic delivery.

• Patchy scarring external sphincter in mid anal canal. Internal sphincter intact.

• Pelvic floor exercises helped bladder.

• 4 sessions biofeedback over 5 months.

• Discharged symptom free.

• No symptoms at 3 years

Urgency with rapid fatigue

Sustained squeeze with no urgency after exercises

Fast-twitch to speed reaction

Home Exercises

• Need to practice a lot

• Attempt 10 times per day

• Start level depends on assessment

• Maximal, sub-maximal and fast-twitch

• Aim for 5 of each

• Often 4-6 weeks before start to benefit

• Up to 4-6 months for maximal benefit

Urgency• Toilets are not

available in many places

• Anxiety can trigger urgency

• Vicious circle develops: urge panic urgency more panic incontinence panic more next time

Urge resistance

• Need to re-learn that urge will wear off if resisted

• Practice “holding on” – wait once feel the urge to defaecate

• Behavioural retraining - start on toilet if necessary, gradually increase distance

Rectal balloon distension

• Increase sensitivity• OR decrease

sensitivity (one report published)

• progressive distension to urge volume

• re-learn that urge wears off if resisted

RCT of biofeedback for FI(Norton et al, Gastroenterology 2003)

• Consecutive referrals for faecal incontinence biofeedback

• Anorectal physiology tests and ultrasound

• Diary and questionnaires with appointment• 1 hour assessment

(Norton & Chelvanayagam, 2000)

• If consented, allocation to one of four groups

Groups• Group 1: up to six one hour sessions of

information and advice (teaching, diet, fluids, medication titration, urge resistance, time and attention)

• Group 2: as Group1, add exercises taught digitally + leaflet with home exercises

• Group 3: as Group 2 + computer biofeedback at each session

• Group 4: as Group 3 + home biofeedback machine

Results

• 171 patients, median age 56 years

• 82% completion, similar between groups

• Median 5 sessions

• No differences detected between the groups on ANY of the outcome measures

• No suggestion of a trend in the direction of hypothesis

Outcome for all groups

• 80% improved to at least some extent, whatever treatment they were given

• FI, anxiety, depression, quality of life and sphincter function improved in all groups

• 62% patients rated their change as +3 or above (-5 to +5 scale); 18% unchanged or worse.

• Suggests biofeedback and exercises were not the operant for change

• So what DID improve symptoms? (Norton et al, Gastroenterology 2003)

Patients' rating of change in symptoms(all groups combined)

0 01

2

0

21

9

16

34

21

27

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5

Rating of change

Nu

mb

er

of

pa

tie

nts

Patients’ comments on outcome of Biofeedback• We asked patients which aspect of the

treatment helped the most• Most commented in detail

– Knowing I am not the only one with FI– Experimental intervention (whatever they

were asked to do)– Understanding of the problem– Practical advice– Nurse-patient relationship

• “I felt very involved in understanding what the treatment, symptoms etc are all about. This has helped me to be aware & understand more & take note of what is going on inside me” (Patient 34, Group 2).