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Review
. 2021 Feb;37(1):71-83.
doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2020.08.006. Epub 2020 Oct 29.

Fecal Incontinence in the Elderly

Trisha Pasricha  1 , Kyle Staller  2
Affiliations
Review

Fecal Incontinence in the Elderly

Trisha Pasricha et al. Clin Geriatr Med. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Fecal incontinence can be a challenging and stigmatizing disease with a high prevalence in the elderly population. Despite effective treatment options, most patients do not receive care. Clues in the history and physical examination can assist the provider in establishing the diagnosis. Direct inquiry about the presence of incontinence is key. Bowel disturbances are common triggers for symptoms and represent some of the easiest treatment targets. We review the epidemiology and impact of the disease, delineate a diagnostic and treatment approach for primary care physicians to identify patients with suspected fecal incontinence and describe appropriate treatment options.

Keywords: Algorithm; Diarrhea; Elderly; Fecal incontinence; Fecal seepage; Rectal examination; Sacral nerve stimulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure K. Staller has received research support from AstraZeneca, Gelesis, and Takeda; he has served as a consultant to Arena, Bayer, Shire, and Synergy; he has served as a speaker for Shire. T. Pasricha has nothing to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Anorectal anatomy relevant to fecal incontinence. (From Rao SS, Bharucha AE, Chiarioni G, et al. Anorectal disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016;150(6):1432; with permission.)
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Suggested treatment algorithm for the evaluation of fecal incontinence in the elderly
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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