[Preliminary results of dynamic gracilloplasty in the treatment of fecal incontinence].

UNLABELLED

Transposition of the gracilis muscle and its continuous electrical stimulation became a widely accepted method for treatment of patients with severe fecal incontinence. This method introduced to clinical practice by Baeten, Williams and Cavina has also been applied in total anorectal reconstruction following abdominoperineal rectum resection due to rectal cancer. This paper describes our (limited so far) experience with dynamic gracilloplasty procedure in the treatment of fecal incontinence in six patients with injury of anal sphincters. Complete preoperative work up was based on the clinical symptoms of fecal incontinence evaluated in detail according to Jorge and Wexner Incontinence Scoring System and the clinicomanometric continence criteria according to Holscheider scale. Anorectal manometry, transanal endosono-graphy, defecography and barostat study were performed in each patient before and following surgery. Dynamic gracilloplasty procedure was performed according to the modified Baeten procedure--as a one stage procedure. Medtronic equipment (IPG Pulse Generator 3023) was applied for gracilis stimulation. Short term program of fast-to-slow muscle conversion was applied starting from the second week following surgery. Patients were prospectively evaluated after surgery in terms of clinical symptoms and anorectal physiology. Complete fecal continence was achieved in all patients during the first month following surgery. There were no serious postoperative complications. It was shown during anorectal manometry that dynamic gracilloplsty could increase the anal sphincter pressure up to the range of healthy subjects, thus to prevent fecal leakage. The overall clinical and manometic results confirm the feasibility of anal dynamic gracilloplasty to restore fecal continence in patients with complete lost of sphincter function due to its traumatic injury or atresia. This technique deserves wider application also in Poland, since our initial results are encouraging.

CONCLUSION

According to our limited experience dynamic gracilloplasty proved safe and effective procedure for the treatment end-stage fecal incontinence. Complete preoperative diagnostic work-up is essential for proper patients selection and surgical procedure should be performed in a specialised surgical center.