Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Presbyterian Urogynecology is now offering a new treatment option for patients with the debilitating and stigmatized condition of chronic fecal incontinence who have not found relief from more conservative treatment options.
According to a National Institutes of Health-funded study, more than 18 million Americans suffer from bowel incontinence problems, and as a result they often struggle with everyday activities, such as traveling or spending time with friends and family. Now, Presbyterian Urogynecology is offering InterStim® Therapy for Bowel Control, a minimally invasive option proven to improve or restore bowel control. The therapy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month.
“Bowel control problems can significantly impair a patient’s quality of life, and many patients are too embarrassed or uncomfortable to talk about the problem with their physician,” said William Porter, MD, Presbyterian Urogynecology. “Until now, there have been limited treatment options for people with fecal incontinence who don’t respond to conservative therapies. InterStim Therapy for Bowel Control gives these individuals hope for living a more normal life.”
The implantable InterStim system uses mild electrical stimulation of the sacral nerves to influence the behavior of the pelvic floor muscles and bowel.As a result, the therapy significantly reduces fecal incontinent episodes for many patients. InterStim Therapy is the only bowel control treatment option that allows patients and physicians to determine probable success of the therapy through a test stimulation procedure prior to committing to long-term therapy.
Fecal incontinence is more common in adults, predominately women, and it is not a normal part of aging. Fecal incontinence can be caused by a variety of factors, including damage to the nerves or muscles in the rectum from trauma such as childbirth or other pelvic health disorders.
For more information about fecal incontinence, InterStim Therapy or other urogynecologic issues, please visit www.presbyterianurogynecology.com or call 704-316-1120.
