Artificial Bowel Sphincter Implantation for Faecal Incontinence in Asian Patients

Background To evaluate the outcomes with the American Medical Systems artificial bowel sphincter (ABS) implantation for the treatment of intractable faecal incontinence in an Asian population. Methods Six Asian patients who underwent ABS implantation between March 2004 and December 2007 for the treatment of faecal incontinence were reviewed. Results The ABS was successfully implanted in six patients [mean age 50 (20–73) years; 4 males]. The most common causes of incontinence were congenital anomaly of the anus (imperforate anus status post a pull-through procedure) and status-post ultralow anterior resection. Two patients required device explantation due to postoperative infection. One eventually required a colostomy. After a mean follow-up of 22 (4–36) months, four patients continued to have a functional artificial bowel sphincter. Faecal incontinence severity scores improved from a mean of 13 (12–14) to 6 (0–9) postactivation. Anal manometry showed an increase in mean resting pressures (19.2 +/− 7.5 mmHg vs. postimplantation with cuff inflated 45.0 +/− 12.0 mmHg). The comparative preoperative and postactivation faecal incontinence quality of life scores showed improvement in all aspects. Conclusions Patients with successful ABS implantation benefited from improved outcomes in function and quality of life. Infection was the most common cause of failure in our patients.