Faecal incontinence

Faecal incontinence, the uncontrolled loss of faecal material, is a surprisingly common condition with many epidemiological and aetiological similarities to that of urinary incontinence. The condition carries many challenges for the clinician, from obtaining a history from patients often too embarrassed to fully recount their symptoms, through to the difficulty in ascertaining whether a treatment has been a success or not. A wide range of pathological conditions cause the symptoms of faecal incontinence, yet in clinical practice the condition is generally seen in women following childbirth. Assessing the individual patient for a successful outcome includes ascertaining not only a reduction in incontinent episodes, but also patient satisfaction and an improved quality of life.