Troublesome faecal incontinence following a lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) is often attributed to faulty surgical techniques: division of excessive amount of internal sphincter or inadvertent injury to the external sphincter. The aim of the present paper was to assess the anatomic and physiological factors that may contribute to faecal incontinence following a technically satisfactory lateral internal sphincterotomy by a group of colorectal specialists.
Faecal incontinence after lateral internal sphincterotomy is often associated with coexisting occult sphincter defects: a study using endoanal ultrasonography.
Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville and Geelong Hospital, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. tjandra@connexus.net.au
