Surgical Treatment of Fecal Incontinence

Patients with major fecal incontinence often do not benefit from medical treatment or biofeedback and thus are proposed for surgery. Different surgical options are available, the choice of which depends on the type of incontinence, the severity of symptoms, and the compliance of the patient. The efficacy of surgery still remains difficult to assess, but it is quite evident that none of the operations can guarantee a return to perfect continence. Surgical treatment for fecal incontinence can be divided in two main groups: