Fecal continence (FI) depends on a closed and empty anal canal, the function of which is influenced by one inherent and one acquired factors. The inherent factor is the presence of an intact healthy internal anal sphincter (IAS). The acquired factor is gained by toilet training, keeping high sympathetic tone at the IAS causing its continuous contraction and keeping the anal canal empty and closed.

The IAS is a collagen-muscle tissue cylinder that surrounds the anal canal and is surrounded in its lower part by the external anal sphincter (EAS). Medical imaging (MRI and 3DUS) shows lacerations in the collagen chassis of the IAS and an open anal canal in women with FI.

Childbirth Trauma (CBT) causes seen lacerations in the perineum and non-visible trauma in the collagen chassis of the vagina and the intimately lying IAS leading to posterior vaginal wall prolapse and FI.

Fecal incontinence (FI) is failure to control the passage of stools and/or flatus. It is quite common in women especially seen in those women near and/or after menopause who had vaginal deliveries. Childbirth trauma causes injuries to the collagen chassis of the internal anal sphincter (IAS). Control of the passage of feces and/or flatus can only be achieved by keeping the anal canal empty and closed all the time until there is a need and/or a desire to evacuate the rectum at suitable social circumstances [1-4].

After toilet training on desire and/or need to evacuate the rectum at suitable social circumstances, controlled by healthy alert central nervous system (CNS) the person will inhibit the acquired high sympathetic tone at the IAS thus relaxing it and opening the anal canal either for a moment to pass flatus or for a longer time to expel stools. Then he/she relaxes the EAS which is a voluntary muscle, and also relaxing the levator ani muscles straightening the angle between the rectum and the anal canal to allow easy expulsion of the gut contents. There will be also voluntary contractions of the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles, increasing the abdominal pressure, helping in expelling all the rectal contents. After expelling the gut contents the EAS, a voluntary skeletal muscle, contracts sequentially its three parts: the deep, then the superficial and the subcutaneous parts to ensure leaving the anal canal empty and closed.

FECAL INCONTINENCE (FI)

Fecal incontinence is the sequel of failure of one of the above cited functions. Failure of toilet training leaves the person in the first stage of defecation. Failure of the CNS leads to transient FI as in temporary failure e.g. severe fear. Permanent failure e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), DLE, leads to long standing FI.

A very common cause of FI in women is CBT. CBT leads to visible perineal lacerations and more common non-visible lacerations in the collagen chassis of the IAS and the posterior vaginal wall leading to vaginal wall prolapse and FI. The damage to the collagen chassis of the IAS not the lacerated EAS is the main cause of FI.

RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY [8,9]

In cases of FI and posterior vaginal wall prolapse, we correct the FI and the lacerated prolapsed posterior vaginal wall. We use hydro-dissection injecting 1/200,000 adrenaline on normal saline sub-vaginally and in the perineum. We expose the torn collagen chassis of the IAS by separating the torn collagen chassis of the IAS clear from the posterior vaginal wall, the lacerations in the anterior wall of the IAS will appear. Start mending the torn collagen chassis of the IAS using slowly absorbed suture material (vicryl number one zero) by simple interrupted stitches; this may take 4-6 simple stitches. Approximate the two-levator ani muscles, using number one slowly absorbed suture material, leave the thread on pairs of artery forceps  untied until later after overlapping the two longitudinal  flaps of the posterior vaginal wall; two stitches to approximate the levators may be enough. Strengthen the posterior vaginal wall by overlapping the two longitudinal vaginal flaps; also, we add extra support to the mended IAS, correct the posterior vaginal wall prolapse and narrow the patulous vagina. We approximate the two levator ani muscles by tying the threads by surgical knots. Finish by repairing the perineum.

1.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAES, Kandil IM (2016) Pelvic floor dysfunction: New concepts on its patho physiology and its reconstructive surgery. Gynecol Obstet Case Rep 2.

2.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAES, Ibrahim M. Kandil, Khaled A Shehata, et al. (2014) Imaging of the pelvic floor. Curr Med Imaging Rev 10: 205-214.

3.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAES, Kandil IM (2014) Micturition and urinary incontinence. J Nephrol Urol Res 2: 19-26.

4.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAS, Kandil IM, Al-Adwani AKA (2014) Pelvic floor dysfunction and its reconstructive surgery: Novel concepts. USA: CreateSpace Independent Pub.

5.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAES, Kandil IM, Al Sayed MS, Zaher MA, et al. (2014) A novel concept on the patho-physiology of defecation and fecal incontinence (FI) in women-moreover, its reconstructive surgery. In: Catto-Smith AG, edr. Fecal Incotinence Causes, Management and Outcome. INTECH Publication, pp: 47-67.

6.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAES, Kurjak A, Kandil IM, Serour AG (2013) Pelvic floor dysfunction, the role of imaging and reconstructive surgery. DSJUOG 7: 86-97.

7.       El Hemaly AKM, Kandil IM, Kurjak A, Mousa LAES, Kamel HH, et al. (2011) Ultrasound assessment of the internal anal sphincter in women with fecal incontinence and posterior vaginal wall prolapse (Rectocele). DSJUOG 5: 330-342.

8.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAES, Kandil IM, El Sokkary FS, Serour AG, et al. (2010) Fecal incontinence, a novel concept: The role of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) in defecation and fecal incontinence. Gynaecologia Et Perinatologia 9: 79-85.

9.       El Hemaly AKM, Mousa LAES, Kandil IM, El Sokkary FS, Serour AG (2010) Surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and vaginal prolapse by a novel operation “urethro-ano-vaginoplasty”. Gynaecologia Et Perinatologia 3: 129-188.