Abstract
Background
Anal inserts and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation may be offered to those with fecal incontinence in whom other conservative treatments have failed.
Objective
We aimed to compare anal inserts and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation.
Design
This was an investigator-blinded randomized pilot study.
Settings
The study was conducted at a large tertiary care hospital.
Patients
Adult patients with passive or mixed fecal incontinence were recruited.
Interventions
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either the anal inserts or weekly percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for a period of 3 months.
Main Outcome Measures
The primary end point was a 50% reduction of episodes of fecal incontinence per week as calculated by a prospectively completed 2-week bowel diary. Secondary end points were St Mark’s incontinence score, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Bowel scores (for bowel pattern, bowel control, and quality of life), use of antidiarrheal agents, estimates of comfort and acceptability.
Results
Fifty patients were recruited: 25 were randomly assigned to anal inserts and 25 were randomly assigned to percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. All completed treatment. A significant improvement of scores in the 2-week bowel diary, the St Mark’s scores and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire- Bowel scores, was seen in both groups after 3 months of treatment. A reduction of ≥50% fecal incontinence episodes was reached by 76% (n = 19/25) by the anal insert group, compared with 48% (n = 12/25) of those in the percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation group (p = 0.04). The St Mark’s fecal incontinence scores and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Bowel scores for bowel pattern, bowel control, and quality of life (p = 0.01) suggest similar improvement for each group.
Limitations
A realistic sample size calculation could not be performed because of the paucity of objective prospective studies assessing the effect of the insert device and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation.
Conclusions
Both anal insert and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation improved the symptoms of fecal incontinence after 3 months of treatment. The insert device appeared to be more effective than percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. Larger studies are needed to investigate this further. See Video Abstract at http:// links.lww.com/DCR/B460.