Antegrade Continence Enema in the Treatment of Obstructed Defaecation with or Without Faecal Incontinence

Background: Obstructed defaecation and faecal incontinence are complex functional disorders that pose management challenges. In recent times, the antegrade continence enema (ACE) has been tried both as a primary procedure and as a final resort to avoid a colostomy in patients with a variety of functional problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the ACE procedure as a treatment option for adult patients suffering from obstructed defaecation with or without faecal incontinence, some of whom also had slow transit constipation.

Methods: Twenty female patients underwent ACE as an appendicostomy (65%) or caecostomy (35%). The median age was 44 years (range, 20-65 years). The indications were obstructed defaecation with faecal incontinence (65%) and obstructed defaecation alone (35%). Fifteen of these patients were followed for 3-51 months (median, 6 months). Cleveland continence score, bowel score and quality of life score were recorded pre- and postoperatively along with post-procedure complications.

Results: Thirteen (65%) patients were satisfied with the outcome and recorded improvement in their scores while two (10%) remained the same and one (5%) was worse. This latter woman and another patient stopped using their ACE, whilst follow-up data was unavailable for three patients. Minor wound infections were noted in nine patients (45%), of whom one needed drainage of an abscess; the rest settled with antibiotics and dressings. Bowel and Cleveland continence scores improved postoperatively (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively) but SF36 scores did not. To date, no patient has had a colostomy following an ACE procedure.

Conclusions: Colostomies can be avoided in patients with obstructed defaecation. There is, however, a need to minimise wound infections which seem to be the most troublesome complication.