TREATMENT OF ENCOPRESIS BY PARENT-MEDIATED BIOFEEDBACK IN A CHILD WITH CORRECTED IMPERFORATE ANUS

Abstract

A six-year-old girl with surgically corrected imperforate anus and chronic faecal soiling was successfully treated by biofeedback. A portable biofeedback machine using an anorectal balloon was constructed and lent to the patient’s mother who administered the treatment at home following instruction in the clinic. Faecal incontinence was replaced by normal bowel evacuation habits after four weeks of the procedure. The effect was durable at least until follow-up at three months. Positive spin-offs were observed. The reversal of the child's encopresis suggested neuromuscular intactness of the anorectalregion despite the congenital malformation. Biofeedback probably compensated for an earlier learning fault. Domiciliary, parent-mediated biofeedback therapy is a cost-effective procedure and may be widely applicable to suitable patients within the population of children with primary expulsive and retentive bowel control disorders.