Biomaterial Database

Biofeedback treatment for chronic constipation and encopresis in childhood: long-term outcome. 1995

V Loening-Baucke

University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.

OBJECTIVE Abnormal defecation dynamics often are present in children with chronic constipation and encopresis. Patients who learned normal defecation dynamics with biofeedback treatment had improved short-term outcome. The aim of our research was to evaluate if biofeedback treatment improved long-term outcome. METHODS One hundred twenty-nine children with constipation, encopresis, and abnormal defecation dynamics were treated conventionally; 63 of them received additional biofeedback training directed towards teaching normal defecation dynamics. RESULTS At follow-up (4.1 +/- 1.5 years), 86% of conventionally treated patients and 87% of biofeedback-treated patients had improvement in encopresis; 62% of conventionally treated patients, 50% of successful biofeedback-treated patients, and 23% of unsuccessful biofeedback-treated patients had recovered from chronic constipation and encopresis. Recovery rates were similar for conventionally treated patients and biofeedback-treated patients who learned normal defecation dynamics (P > .2) but significantly lower for unsuccessful biofeedback-treated patients (P < .02). Length of follow-up was significantly related to recovery (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Learning normal defecation dynamics with biofeedback training did not increase long-term recovery rates in children with chronic constipation, encopresis, and abnormal defecation dynamics above those achieved with conventional treatment alone.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D012007	Rectum	The distal segment of the LARGE INTESTINE, between the SIGMOID COLON and the ANAL CANAL.	Rectums
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003248	Constipation	Infrequent or difficult evacuation of FECES. These symptoms are associated with a variety of causes, including low DIETARY FIBER intake, emotional or nervous disturbances, systemic and structural disorders, drug-induced aggravation, and infections.	Colonic Inertia,Dyschezia
D003672	Defecation	The normal process of elimination of fecal material from the RECTUM.	Bowel Function,Bowel Movement,Bowel Functions,Bowel Movements,Defecations
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D004688	Encopresis	Incontinence of feces not due to organic defect or illness.