Benign proctology,Surgical technique
- Transperineal rectocele repair is ideal for patients presenting with fecal incontinence
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Marie Shella De Robles, Christopher J. Young
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Ann Coloproctol. 2022;38(5):376-379. Published online October 19, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2021.00157.0022
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Abstract
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- Purpose
Rectocele can be associated with both obstructed defecation and fecal incontinence. There exists a great variety of operative techniques to treat patients with rectocele. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome in a consecutive series of patients who underwent transperineal repair of rectocele when presenting with fecal incontinence as the predominant symptom.
Methods
Twenty-three consecutive patients from April 2000 to July 2015 with symptomatic rectocele underwent transperineal repair by a single surgeon.
Results
All patients had a history of vaginal delivery, with or without evidence of associated anal sphincter injury at the time. The median age of the cohort was 53 years (range, 21–90 years). None were fully continent preoperatively. However, continence improved to just rare mucus soiling or loss of flatus in all patients 6 months after their surgery. There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications including urinary retention and wound dehiscence occurred in 3 patients.
Conclusion
Fecal incontinence associated with rectocele is multifactorial and may be caused by preexisting anal sphincteric damage and attenuation. Our experience suggests that transperineal repair provides excellent anatomic and physiologic results with minimal morbidity in selected patients presenting with combined rectocele and anal sphincter defect.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Fecal Incontinence Outcomes Following Transvaginal Posterior Vaginal Wall Repair
Jersey B. Burns, Amr El Haraki, Jesseca Crawford, Candace Y. Parker-Autry
International Urogynecology Journal.2025; 36(5): 1061. CrossRef - IUGA Opinion Paper on Obstructed Defecation: Management of Clinical and Proctographic Rectoceles
Suneetha Rachaneni, Hans Peter Dietz, Pallavi Latthe, Annie Sirany, Anna Spivak, Anupreet Dua
International Urogynecology Journal.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Constipation
Karim Alavi, Amy J. Thorsen, Sandy H. Fang, Pamela L. Burgess, Gino Trevisani, Amy L. Lightner, Daniel L. Feingold, Ian M. Paquette
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.2024; 67(10): 1244. CrossRef
Benign GI diease,Benign diesease & IBD
- Long-term evolution of continence and quality of life after sphincteroplasty for obstetric fecal incontinence
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Vicente Pla-Martí, Jose Martín-Arévalo, Rosa Martí-Fernández, David Moro-Valdezate, Stephanie García-Botello, Alejandro Espí-Macías, Miguel Mínguez-Pérez, Maria Dolores Ruiz-Carmona, Jose Vicente Roig-Vila
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Ann Coloproctol. 2022;38(1):13-19. Published online September 18, 2020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2020.09.16
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7,359
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224
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10
Web of Science
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11
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Abstract
PDF
- Purpose
This study was performed to evaluate the long-term evolution of continence and patient’s quality of life after surgical treatment for obstetric fecal incontinence.
Methods
A prospective longitudinal study was conducted including consecutive patients who underwent sphincteroplasty for severe obstetric fecal incontinence. The first phase analyzed changes in continence and impact on quality of life. The second phase studied the long-term evolution reevaluating the same group of patients 6 years later. Degree of fecal incontinence was calculated using the Cleveland Clinic Score (CCS). Quality of life assessment was carried out with the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scale.
Results
Thirty-five patients with median age of 55 years (range, 28 to 73 years) completed the study. Phase 1 results: after a postoperative follow-up of 30 months (4 to 132 months), CCS had improved significantly from a preoperative of 15.7 ± 3.1 to 6.1 ± 5.0 (P < 0.001). Phase 2 results: median follow-up in phase 2 was 110 months (76 to 204 months). The CCS lowered to 8.4 ± 4.9 (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences between phases 1 and 2 in terms of quality of life; lifestyle (3.47 ± 0.75 vs. 3.16 ±1.04), coping/behavior (3.13 ±0.83 vs. 2.80 ±1.09), depression/self-perception (3.65 ±0.80 vs. 3.32 ± 0.98), and embarrassment (3.32 ± 0.90 vs. 3.12 ± 1.00).
Conclusion
Sphincteroplasty offers good short-medium term outcomes in continence and quality of life for obstetric fecal incontinence treatment. Functional clinical results deteriorate over time but did not impact on patients’ quality of life.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) and secondary overlapping sphincteroplasty from a colorectal perspective: A Systematic Review
Abdel Latif Khalifa Elnaim, Michael P.K. Wong, Ismail Sagap
Academic Medicine & Surgery.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Comparative outcomes of sphincteroplasty and sacral neuromodulation in postmenopausal women with late-onset fecal incontinence following obstetric trauma: a retrospective study
Alessandro Bergna, Andrea Rusconi, Jacques Megevand, Ettore Lillo, Massimo Amboldi, Alessio Lanzaro, Leonardo Lenisa, Ezio Ganio
Updates in Surgery.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries: A Urogynecologic Perspective on Detection and Diagnosis
Katarzyna Borycka, Diaa E. E. Rizk
International Urogynecology Journal.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Baiona’s Consensus Statement for Fecal Incontinence. Spanish Association of Coloproctology
Javier Cerdán Miguel, Antonio Arroyo Sebastián, Antonio Codina Cazador, Fernando de la Portilla de Juan, Mario de Miguel Velasco, Alberto de San Ildefonso Pereira, Fernando Jiménez Escovar, Franco Marinello, Mónica Millán Scheiding, Arantxa Muñoz Duyos, M
Cirugía Española (English Edition).2024; 102(3): 158. CrossRef - Diagnostic tools for fecal incontinence: Scoring systems are the crucial first step
Peter Liptak, Martin Duricek, Peter Banovcin
World Journal of Gastroenterology.2024; 30(6): 516. CrossRef - Consenso Baiona sobre Incontinencia Fecal: Asociación Española de Coloproctología
Javier Cerdán Miguel, Antonio Arroyo Sebastián, Antonio Codina Cazador, Fernando de la Portilla de Juan, Mario de Miguel Velasco, Alberto de San Ildefonso Pereira, Fernando Jiménez Escovar, Franco Marinello, Mónica Millán Scheiding, Arantxa Muñoz Duyos, M
Cirugía Española.2024; 102(3): 158. CrossRef - How to Avoid Becoming a Risk Factor of Fecal Incontinence Due to OASIS—A Narrative Review
Nikodem Horst
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(17): 5071. CrossRef - The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Fecal Incontinence
Liliana G. Bordeianou, Amy J. Thorsen, Deborah S. Keller, Alexander T. Hawkins, Craig Messick, Lucia Oliveira, Daniel L. Feingold, Amy L. Lightner, Ian M. Paquette
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.2023; 66(5): 647. CrossRef - Validation of the Turkish version of the Quality of Life in Patients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire
Mehmet Ali Koç, Kerem Özgü, Derya Gökmen, Mehmet Süha Sevinç, Şiyar Ersöz, Cihangir Akyol
Turkish Journal of Colorectal Disease.2023; 33(4): 124. CrossRef - A systematic review of translation and experimental studies on internal anal sphincter for fecal incontinence
Minsung Kim, Bo-Young Oh, Ji-Seon Lee, Dogeon Yoon, Wook Chun, Il Tae Son
Annals of Coloproctology.2022; 38(3): 183. CrossRef - Is It a Refractory Disease?- Fecal Incontinence; beyond
Medication
Chungyeop Lee, Jong Lyul Lee
The Ewha Medical Journal.2022;[Epub] CrossRef