[Therapy of pediatric anorectal incontinence with special reference to biofeedback training].

During the last two years 108 children have been hospitalized for diagnosis and treatment of constipation and fecal incontinence. Standard examinations are followed by a strict regimen of nutritional and behaviour modification therapy and, if necessary, psychological treatment is added. In severe cases we had to extend this concept by a biofeedback conditioning as a specific organic training to improve anorectal sensibility and to strengthen sphincter force. By transformation of the sphincter contraction pressure into an analogous optical signal the patient is able to recognize the muscle activities and to increase their efficiency. The organic and psychic requirements to perform a biofeedback treatment are discussed based on the experience with eight patients suffering from fecal incontinence due to different etiologies.