The cost of faecal incontinence
According to a study from the University of Michigan in the USA, faecal incontinenceThe involuntary passage of urine or faeces. costs $4110 per person in the country through medical costs, non-medical costs, and loss of earnings. The study, which was published in the journal Diseases of the Colon & Rectum was one of the first studies to assess the annual economic costs of faecal incontinence.
Mr Austin Obichere, Consultant Colorectal 
Surgeon at University College Hospital London, has identified that up to £100 million is spent each year in the UK on treatments for this condition and that the numbers of people suffering from bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines. incontinence are increasing. Incontinence is a condition mainly associated with age and is therefore becoming more prevalent in our ageing population.
One of the authors of the study, Professor Fenner, wrote that people experiencing faecal incontinence may suffer for five or more years before seeking treatment and that the condition can therefore result in depressionFeelings of sadness, hopelessness and a loss of interest in life, combined with a sense of reduced emotional well-being or social isolation. It is better for patients to be treated early and there are a range of treatments available from dietary modification to sphincter implants and Sacral Nerve Stimulation. Prof Fenner highlighted that the “…study shows that more attention should be directed to the prevention of this condition… interventions that can help patients manage their symptoms could generate financial benefits as well…”
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- Faecal Incontinence
Common benign perianal conditions
The Royal Marsden Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic
The medical conditions that occur in or just around the anusThe external opening of the back passage, the rectum. (perianalAround the anus.) can often cause pain and frequently lead to worrying symptoms including bleeding. However, three of the most common conditions are quite benignNot dangerous, usually applied to a tumour that is not malignant. and can be treated easily. These are anal fissures, anal fistulae and haemorrhoidsSwollen blood vessels around the anus, also known as piles. (piles).
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Modern surgical management of faecal incontinence
University College Hospital London, The Harley Street Clinic
Introduction
Faecal incontinenceThe involuntary passage of urine or faeces. is a major social problem affecting between two and 15% of the population. The condition is known to increase with age and it is estimated that 16% of men and 26% of woman above the age of 50 years will suffer from faecal incontinence. The cost implications for managing this condition in the community is considerable, with up to £100 million spent each year on incontinence pads, plugs or absorbents.
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