Electrostimulation is not a clinically effective treatment of anal incontinence:

Objective To evaluate the manometric and clinical efficacies of electrostimulation to treat anal incontinence, Patients and methods Thirty-three women suffering from anal incontinence self-administered anal electrostimulation twice daily for 15-min intervals for 4 months. Results After 4 months, the incontinence score decreased from 10.4 +/- 0.5 to 7.1 +/- 0.8 (P< 0.001) but all patients except two remained incontinent. The decrease in the incontinence score was more marked in patients receiving medical treatment for an associated bowel disorder, than in patients treated by electrostimulation alone, Anal resting pressures and the amplitude of voluntary anal contractions did not increase after 4 months. Conclusion Electrostimulation decreased the incontinence score but all patients except two remained incontinent after 4 months, suggesting that electrostimulation is not a clinically effective treatment of anal incontinence. for J Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:1045-1047 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.