Tratamiento quirûrgico de la incontinencia fecal

Background: the incidence of fecal incontinence in an adult population is between 2-3%. Obstetric injury of the sphincter is the most common cause. At present, fecal incontinence represents a serious socioeconomic problemin developed countries. Objective: update of different treatments and specific indications. Methods: bibliographic review. Results: sphincteroplasty is the treatment of choice in patients with isolated anal sphincter defects. Patients with multiple surgical proceedings, should be candidates for artificial anal sphincter implantation. Post anal repair still has a place in patients with low pressure and injury of the external anal sphincter. Ostomy must be reserved to those in which previous procedures failed trying to improve the quality of life. Conclusions: fecal incontinence is a distress condition which represents a serious socioeconomic problem, modifying the quality of life. At present there are different therapeutic options. Desfunctionalizations should be the last alternative for these patients.