Fecal incontinence is a common – and often unrecognized – complication of bariatric surgery

Fecal incontinence is a potential complication of bariatric surgery. Among patients with severe obesity who undergo bariatric surgery, nearly half of women and more than one-fifth of men report having incontinence. The diarrhea and dumping syndrome is often accompanied by symptoms of abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, flushing, and light-headedness.

Post-surgical incontinence can develop because of the changes made during the surgical procedure. The surgeon reroutes the small intestine during Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery, and the changes made during surgery may negatively affect the muscles that control bowel and bladder function. Also, diarrhea or loose bowel movements are primarily a possible consequence of Sleeve Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch

The surgery can also cause damage to the nerves that control bowel and bladder function. The damage can interfere with the way the nerves communicate with the muscles that control bowel and bladder function.

The Debilitating Effects of Incontinence after Bariatric Surgery

Incontinence can be a debilitating condition that can greatly impact an individual’s quality of life. Fecal incontinence can cause devastating negative psychological effects, social stigma, and reduced quality of life. The patients may also develop secondary medical morbidities, such as skin maceration, decubitus ulcers, CDI, IAD, etc.

In any postoperative patient with especially watery diarrhea, extremely foul flatus, and abdominal cramping may indicate Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) colitis or antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD)

Management for Fecal Incontinence after Bariatric Surgery

The management for incontinence due to bariatric surgery will depend on the underlying cause. In some cases, incontinence can be treated with medication. Loperamide (Imodium A-D) and medications containing diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil) can control diarrhea.

Exercise and other therapies may help control fecal incontinence. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder and bowels. Biofeedback can improve the results of exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor; it can also improve sensitivity of the somatic somatic nerve supply from the inferior anal branch of the pudendal nerve that controls movement of the anal sphincter muscle. Dietary changes may also help.

Surgery to repair the damage associated with bariatric surgery is sometime necessary. In one study of more than 2000 adult patients, 27.8 percent of participants underwent a first-time revisional surgery; of these, 6 percent were corrective surgeries. Revisional bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass revisions and gastric sleeve revision, is more complicated and has a higher risk for complications than an initial bariatric procedure.