Introduction: Sacral nerve stimulation is a widely accepted therapeutic option for neurogenic fecal incontinence. More recently, case reports showed a positive effect of sacral nerve stimulation in patients with fecal incontinence following low anterior resection. The purpose of this study was to gain more information for this selected indication for sacral nerve stimulation through a nationwide survey.
Material and methods: In the period 2002 to 2005, three Austrian departments reported data of patients who underwent SNS for fecal incontinence following rectal resection. Data were available of seven patients (two female, five male) with a median age of 57 years (min 42; max 79). Six patients had undergone rectal resection as a treatment for low rectal cancer. One patient had undergone rectal resection for Crohn's disease, one patient subtotal colectomy and ileorectostomy for slow colon transit constipation.
Results: Test stimulation was performed in the foramen S3 unilaterally over a median period of 14 days (2-21 days). Seven patients reported a marked reduction of episodes of incontinence during the observation period and received a permanent stimulation system. After a median follow-up of 32 months (17-46), five patients reported a marked improvement of their continence situation.
Conclusion: Despite a nationwide survey experiences with SNS as a treatment for fecal incontinence following rectal resection is still limited. Our observations show an improvement of the continence function following SNS. However, the promising results of our series as well as others need further research and more clinical data by a larger number of patients in a prospective trial.