Biofeedback treatment of fecal incontinence incorporating a mental variable without instrumentation: a prospective pilot study in Hispanic population / Tratamiento con biofeedback de la incontinencia fecal con incorporación de una variable mental y sin instrumentación: un estudio piloto prospectivo en población hispana

The long-established approaches utilized to treat fecal incontinence always require instrumentation with some type of electronic equipment. This equipment is not always available in every institutions. In addition, no studied protocol principally used as coordination, sensory, or strength training has reached the level of gold standard. The purpose of this study was to describe a simple biofeedback technique that incorporating a mental variable and not requiring electronic equipment with prior adequate training could be used at any medical institution. METHODS: A particular modality of an operant conditioning technique was given once and a home trainer program was established. Forty-eight patients (mean age 37.1 +/- 3.7 years) were recruited. Patients had suffered from total incontinence for a period of 55 +/- 7.5 months, all used two to three pads per day and suffered 2.4 +/- 0.2 episodes of incontinence per day. Patients underwent clinical history recording, laboratory tests, recto-sigmoidoscopy, and double-contrast barium enema. Manometry and rectal sensitivity were performed in 7 and 27 patients, respectively. For physiologic comparisons, 21 healthy volunteers were used. RESULTS: A total of 79.1% of patients became continent in a median period of 3.9 +/- 0.5 months. An average of 3.85 +/- 0.55 sessions was required. Follow-up continued for 3-11 years. Patients with incontinence showed lower basal mean resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure and rectal sensitivity (p <0. 01) and spontaneous rectoanal inhibitory reflex was absent in 57%. CONCLUSIONS: This biofeedback approach does not employ any type of electronic equipment and can be easily reproduced in any type of medical center. Additionally, this is the first report in which a methodology for biofeedback therapy successfully incorporates a mental variable in addition to sensory and strength training.

Antecedentes: Los tratamientos establecidos para laincontinencia fecal requieren instrumentación conalgún tipo de equipo electrónico. Estos no está disponible en todas las instituciones. Además, ningunoha alcanzado el nivel de gold standard. El propósito de este estudio fue describir una técnica de feedback simpleque, incorporando una variable mental y no requiriendo equipo electrónico, podría ser utilizada en cualquier institución médica con el adecuado entrenamiento. Métodos: Se aplicó una modalidad particular de condicionamiento operativo en una ocasión y un programa de entrenamiento en casa fue indicado posteriormente. Se reclutaron 48 pacientes (edad media 37.1 ± 3.7 años), con incontinencia total durante 55± 7.5 meses, cambios de pañal de dos a tres veces por día, y 2.4 ± 0.2 episodios de incontinencia por día. Seles efectuó historia clínica, laboratorio, rectosigmoidoscopía, y colon por enema de doble contraste. Se efectu-aron manometría y sensibilidad rectal en 7 y 27 pacientes, respectivamente. Para comparaciones fisiológicasón se utilizaron 21 voluntarios sanos. Resultados: Un total de 79% de los pacientes recobraron la continenciaen un período de 3.9 ± 0.5 meses, requiriendo un promedio de 3.8 ± 0.5 sesiones. El seguimiento continuópor 3 a 11 años. Los pacientes con incontinencia mostraron menor presión basal media en reposo, máximasensibilidad rectal (p <0.01) y ausencia del reflejo rectoanal inhibitorio espontáneo en el 57% de los casos.Conclusiones: Este tratamiento de biofeedback no emplea ningún tipo de equipo electrónico y puede serfácilmente reproducido en cualquier centro médico. Adicionalmente, este es el primer reporte en el cual unatécnica de tratamiento con biofeedback incorpora con éxito una variable mental además del entrenamiento sensorial y de contracción.

A randomised bouble-blind placebo controlled trial of lidamidine HCL in irritable vowel syndrome

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown electro-mechanical recto-anal alterations in irritable bowel syndrome patients (Awad R. Neurogastroenterol Motil 1993; 5; 265-271). To assess whether the alpha 2-agonist lidamidine HCL is able to modify these physiological alterations and alleviate clinical symptoms, 50 patients with irritable bowel syndrome were studied in a random, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Lidamidine HCL (4 mg) or placebo was taken orally t.i.d. with food. Fasting and post-prandial electrical and mechanical activities of rectum and internal anal sphincter were recorded before and at the end of treatment. Recto-anal sensitivity was also tested. RESULTS: After treatment, post-prandial duration of spontaneous recto-anal inhibitory reflex diminished in the lidamidine group (18.9 +/- 1 vs. 15.1 +/- 1.3 sec; p < 0.05). Amplitude of induced rectoanal inhibitory reflex decreased after lidamidine (24.6 +/- 2.9 vs 17.3 +/- 3 mmHg; p = 0.02). Rectal electrical activity showed no changes during basal and post-prandial periods in any group. Rectal painful sensation decreased after treatment with lidamidine (54.8 +/- 5.4 vs 43.6 +/- 3.5 ml; p < 0.05) as well as with placebo (p < 0.05). Abdominal distension and requency, severity and duration of pain diminished in both groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lidamidine decreased the augmented mechanical response to food, reduced rectal sensitivity, and relieved symptoms. These facts suggest that in spite of the strong placebo response obtained, lidamidine HCL can become a useful alternative for treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Reduction of post-prandial motility by pinaverium bromide a calcium channel blocker acting selectively on the gastrointestinal tract in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Background: Growing evidence points to irritable bowel syndrome physiologically as a disease of the enteric nervous system characterised by hypermotility. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of pinaverium bromide a calcium channel blocker acting selectively on the gastrointestinal tract on basal and post-prandial recto-anal motility of 40 irritable bowel syndrome patients in a random, double blind and placebo controlled trial. Methods: Pinaverium bromide (50 mg) or placebo was taken orally t.i.d with food. Myoelectrical and mechanical activities of the rectum and the internal anal sphincter were recorded before treatment for 2 h in the fasting state and for an additional 2 h post-prandial. Results: Post-prandial rectal spike amplitude and frequency as well as the spontaneous recto-anal inhibitory reflex frequency decreased after pinaverium bromide (P < 0.01) but not after placebo. Conclusions: These results suggest that the calcium channel blockers acting selectively on the gastrointestinal tract may have a therapeutic role in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.