Description

First line treatment with antidiarrheal or laxative therapy can fail, and then it is common practice to employ biofeedback and physiotherapy techniques as second line conservative management strategies with the aim of improving muscle strength, sensory awareness and effective toileting technique, which in turn helps to reduce FI episodes . Whilst these techniques can be effective, a significant proportion of patients remain symptomatic and are then considered for potential surgical treatment.

Surgical treatment of FI can involve improving the structural integrity of the anal sphincter with a repair procedure, or via implantation of an electrical neurostimulator (sacral nerve stimulation - SNS). SNS has been shown to be effective in treating FI, but the procedure is invasive and expensive.

Percutaneous tibial stimulation (PTNS) is an intermediate treatment which involves stimulating the nerves on the top of the foot which project to the same spinal regions as those influenced through SNS. This requires patients to attend an outpatient clinic for up to 12 sessions, each lasting around 30-45 minutes. Stimulation is delivered via needle electrodes which connect to a stimulation device. A course of treatment costs approximately £2000 per patient for 1-year of treatment.

Whilst SNS and PTNS utilise electric neural stimulation, an alternative approach is through the use of magnetic stimulation as a way of activating neural pathways and inducing neuromuscular recovery. The technique is thought to work on the nerves and muscular structures in the anal canal. This technique has been employed in a broad range of disorders. Magnetic stimulation has some advantages as it can be delivered completely non-invasively using different sized magnetic coils placed over the region of interest.

Pelvipower (PonteMed AG, Switzerland) extracorporeal magnetic stimulation device built into a patient friendly chair, incorporating a rapid rate magnetic stimulation system through a stimulation coil. The coil can be used to non-invasively stimulate the nerves and muscles in the pelvic floor that contribute to continence, and it has several potential advantages over existing techniques in terms of cost and convenience, with 6-12 weekly 15 minute sessions currently normal practice. Pelvipower has been used successfully in patients with urinary incontinence, but thus far little research exists in terms of its effect in treating faecal incontinence. However, one study of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation applied via a similar chair apparatus demonstrated increased muscle function in the anal canal, as well as a significant decrease in faecal incontinence. Although faecal incontinence was shown to improve in participants, the study did not include a sham treatment comparison group. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the extracorporeal magnetic stimulation on faecal incontinence, using the Pelvipower© chair compared to a sham treatment.