|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

Incontinence Due to Fissure Surgery

An anal fissure is a tear in the anal canal's lining that may cause bleeding and pain. This condition may require fissure surgery to repair the anal sphincter, which can cause bowel incontinence or a lack of bowel control.

  1. Fissure Surgery

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, a surgeon cuts a portion of the anal sphincter muscle during anal fissure surgery to reduce pain and promote healing. The anal fissure and resultant scar tissue may be removed during surgery.

    Fiber

    • Patients with bowel incontinence may improve fecal consistency and promote regular bowel habits if they add fiber to their diets, according to MedlinePlus.

    Diet Changes

    • Diet changes, such as eliminating alcohol, caffeine and dairy products, may reduce diarrhea and excessive liquid in stools and help improve bowel regularity.

    Medications

    • Patients may reduce bowel incontinence with anti-diarrheal medications or fiber supplements such as Metamucil.

    Bowel Retraining

    • Health care professionals may recommend retraining programs with bowel control exercises to reduce incontinence.

    Incontinence Surgery

    • People with bowel incontinence that does not respond to self-care or other forms of treatment may benefit from surgery, such as the addition of an artificial bowel sphincter or a fecal diversion from the colon through a colostomy.

Digestive Health - Related Articles