Bowel Management

Jeffrey Avansino, MD, K. Elizabeth Speck, MD, Marc Levitt, MD

Introduction

In evaluating a patient with fecal incontinence it is imperative to understand if the patient has true or pseudoincontinence. True fecal incontinence refers to those patients who have no potential for bowel control. The type of anorectal malformation, presence of spinal cord abnormalities and quality of the sacrum can determine the patient’s potential for bowel control. Patients with pseudo- or retentive fecal incontinence possess all of the features of good potential for bowel control but suffer from severe constipation with overflow incontinence. Treatment of individuals varies depending on the type of fecal incontinence.

continence predictor index
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The type of anorectal malformation, presence of spinal cord abnormalities and quality of the sacrum can determine the patient’s potential for bowel control
bowel management
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inforgraphic from the APSA Practicing Surgeons curriculum (Michael Livingston)

see also Cecostomy for Antegrade Enemasand Fecal Incontinence and Functional Constipation

Content in this module is referenced in SCOREAnorectal Malformation overview

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Last updated: January 18, 2022