Biofeedback Training Fecal Incontinence in Children

Effect of Biofeedback Training on Functional Non-Retentive Fecal Incontinence in Children

Fecal incontinence (FI) is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool to leak from rectum it ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control after the age of 4 years1. Functional non-retentive fecal incontinence (FNRFI) is fecal incontinence in a child with a mental age of more than 4 years with no evidence of metabolic, inflammatory, or anatomical cause2.

The long-term result of biofeedback therapy is one of the most important subjects of controversy, and few studies have extended to 2 years of follow-up 11. So, the purpose of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the short-term and long-term efficacy of biofeedback training as a treatment tool designed to control functional non-retentive fecal incontinence in children and its long term impact on the quality of life.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Fecal Incontinence in Children
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Traditional Treatment; Device: Biofeedback

Detailed Description

Functional non-retentive fecal incontinence (FNRFI) is fecal incontinence in a child with a mental age of more than 4 years with no evidence of metabolic, inflammatory, or anatomical cause2.

It is an extremely embarrassing and psychologically frustrating shameful problem with a bad impact on children3. It can lead to social isolation, loss of self-confidence, depression, and behavioral problems4. The underlying mechanism of functional non-retentive fecal incontinence is largely unknown. The pathophysiology seems to be complex and it is considered to be a multifactorial disorder5. Approximately 95% of the children had no organic cause and these children are considered to have a functional defecation disorder. Of this, in approximately 80% of these children FI is results of constipation and is treated with laxatives, the remaining 20% without signs of fecal retention is classified as FNRFI6 The negative psychological and social impact for these children is high, however, and requires adequate intervention7. Biofeedback therapy is a feasible option that has been used for fecal incontinence over several decades8. The underlying premise of biofeedback, as with learning any physical activity, is that "practice makes perfect" if the learner is provided with accurate feedback to make adjustments to optimize performance So, the purpose of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the short-term and long-term efficacy of biofeedback training as a treatment tool designed to control functional non-retentive fecal incontinence in children and its long term impact on the quality of life.

Methods:

The present study included 100 children of both sexes that were included with an age ranged from (5-14 years) with FNRFI with normal bowel habits, normal defecation frequency, and normal stool consistency with incontinence score ranging from 6-24 according to Vaizey score 12. Exclusion criteria included; children who have traumatic sphincter injury, fecal impaction, spinal diseases causing incontinence, anorectal malformation, and children who were not cooperative. Patients included in this study were randomly divided and allocated into two groups Control group and Study group. Written informed consent was obtained from parents of all included children.

A detailed history was taken including bowel habits, duration history of trauma. Complete physical examination to exclude patients requiring surgical correction.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 108
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Al Qalyubia Governorate
    • Banhā, Al Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, 13511
      • Benha University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 year to 10 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ranged from (5-14 years) with FNRFI with normal bowel habits
• Children with normal defecation frequency and normal stool consistency
• Children with incontinence score ranging from 6-24 according to Vaizey score

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children who have traumatic sphincter injury.
• Children who have Fecal impaction
• Children who have Spinal diseases causing incontinence
• Children who have Anorectal malformation
• Children who were not cooperative

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Control group; Patients belonging to the control group received conventional physical therapy program in the form of diet and Kegel exercises.	Procedure: Traditional Treatment; Patients belonging to the control group received conventional physical therapy program in the form of: Dietetic Regulation: The diet was given in the form of the bulk-forming diet, fruits, vegetables, cereals, and bran.; Pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegal exercises): The patient was instructed to lie crock lying position with knees bent. He/she was instructed to pull his/her pelvic muscles upward and inward and hold the contraction for 6 seconds as if to hold back a defecation movement, followed by relaxation for 6 seconds. The exercise was repeated 25 times. Gradually increase the time until reaching 10 seconds of contraction and relaxation for each with repetition up to 30 times. The exercises applied twice per week for 3 months.; Other Names: Diet and exercises
Experimental: Study group; Patients belonging to the study group were subjected to the same conventional physical therapy program in addition to biofeedback training	Device: Biofeedback; Patients belonging to the study group were subjected to the same conventional physical therapy program in addition to biofeedback training. Biofeedback was planned after full guardians' education. Local hygiene for perianal skin for soiling episodes and using zinc oxide cream to prevent excoriation. Biofeedback was done using two types of catheters; a 24-channel water-perfused catheter with latex balloon for sensory training and a double-lumen rectal PVC balloon clothed catheter (MMS U-72210) for strength training. Each biofeedback session took 30 minutes with two sessions per week for 3 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of incontinence episodes	Change in the number of incontinence episodes	24 months
Incontinence Score using Vaizey incontinence score	Questionnaire ranging from zero (indicating complete continence) to 24 (indicating total incontinence).	24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fecal Incontinence Quality of life Score	Change in quality of life score measured on a scale between 1 and 4, where 1 is very affected and 4 is not affected	24 months
Resting pressure (mm hg)	Pressure during relaxation of the anal sphincter	3 months
Squeeze pressure (mm hg)	Pressure during contraction of the anal sphincter	3 months
First sensation (volume of the balloon by cm water)	First sensation of the stool in the rectum	3 months
First Urge (volume of the balloon by cm water)	The patient is trying to hold defecation and he can	3 months
Intense urge (volume of the balloon by cm water)	The Patent can no longer control the defecation	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Batterjee Medical College
• Collaborators: Benha University
• Investigators: Study Director: Emad M Abdelrahman, M.D., Bnha University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 5, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 4, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): July 5, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 12, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): July 16, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 16, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 12, 2020
• Last Verified: July 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Children; Biofeedback; Fecal incontinence; long-term
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Rectal Diseases; Fecal Incontinence
• Other Study ID Numbers: BatterjeeMC

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Plan Description: After Publication, the investigators would like to share the data with other researchers who interested in this topic
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: After publication
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Not available now
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: Study Protocol

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No