Is the Ischioanal Fossa the Most Appropriate Surgical Area for Fecal Incontinence Surgery?

Abstract

Fecal incontinence is the one of the surgical challenges faced by surgeons. Damage to the anal sphincter and neurological diseases are the major causes of fecal incontinence. Surgical interventions are especially necessary for reconstruction of the anal sphincter in patients with fecal incontinence patients due to anal sphincter damage. Surgical interventions performed for fecal incontinence can result in unsatisfactory postoperative outcomes, or initially satisfactory outcomes which deteriorate over time. We have performed surgical interventions with transvaginal access by combining the anal sphincteroplasty and gracilis transposition procedures in female patients who have anal sphincter damage subsequent to vaginal childbirth. The main aim of the transvaginal approach in our technique is to allow extrasphincteric dissection in the ischioanal fossa. As a result of our successful postoperative outcomes, this question came to our minds. Is the ischioanal fossa the most appropriate surgical area in fecal incontinence surgery?

Keywords

• Fecal incontinence
• anal sphincteroplasty
• gracilis muscle transposition
• ischioanal fossa