Constipation and Ano-Rectal Insufficiency

Constipation and incontinence are of considerable importance to a great number of patients but many put it under taboo. Both functional disturbances comprise a wide spectrum of pathophysiological findings of neuro-muscular changes of the colon or the pelvic floor, but psychological factors may play an important role as well.
In recent years much progress has been made in several disciplines which are important for the understanding and handling of constipation and incontinence. This volume, the proceedings of Falk Symposium No. 95 held in Freiburg, Germany, October 28-30, 1996, concentrates on clinically relevant and open questions rather than trying to cover the whole field in all details.

Section I: Introduction. 1. Everything You Wanted to Know About Constipation and Incontinence but Were Afraid to Ask; D.L. Wingate. 2. Epidemiology and Socioeconomic Impact of Constipation and Faecal Incontinence; A. Sonnenberg. 3. Psychodynamic Aspects of Bowel Dysfunction; N.W. Read. Section II: Morphology and Physiology. 4. Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor with Special Reference to the Anal Sphincters: Cross-Sectional and Microscopic Examinations on Human Cadavers; M.A. Konerding, et al. 5. Who is in Control of Colo-Rectal-Anal Function: Nerves, Hormones, Muscles? T. Frieling. 6. The Gut and the Brain: How Do They Communicate? P. Enck. Section III: Constipation: Diagnostic Methods. 7. What Have Radiopaque Markers and Scintigraphy to Offer? M.R. von der Ohe. 8. Why Do We Need Neurological Methods? D.G. Thompson. 9. Manometry: Why, When and How? G. Bassotti. Section IV: Clinical Aspects of Constipation. 10. Doctor, I Am Constipated: So What? B. Lembcke. 11. Constipation: Bowel-, Brain- or Behaviour-Dysfunction? M. Delvaux, J. Frexinos. 12. Outlet Obstruction: What Obstructs the Outlet? D. Kumar. 13. Diseases and Drugs: When Do They Result in Constipation? W. Kruis, C. Pohl. Section V: Treatment of Constipation. 14. Does Diet Matter in Constipation? K.W. Heaton. 15. Laxatives and Prokinetics - Good or Bad? H.D. Allescher. 16. How Effective are Unconventional Therapies; S. Müller-Lissner. 17. Treatment of Constipation: Is Resection the Answer? P.R. Hawley. Section VI: Incontinence: Diagnostic Methods. 18. Do You Really Know What Incontinence Means? M. Karaus. 19. Diagnostic Methods: Does the Finger Suffice? J.H. Pemberton. 20. Imaging the Anal Sphincter: Research or Routine? V.F. Eckardt. Section VII: Treatment of Incontinence. 21. Treatment or Faecal Incontinence: Is Biofeedback the Only Answer? M. Wienbeck, et al. 22. Does the Surgeon Repair or Impair? J.H.C. Kuijpers. Section VIII: Special Groups with Constipation and/or Incontinence. 23. The Young; S. Koletzko. 24. Constipation and Faecal Incontinence in the Female; K. Baessler, B. Schuessler. 25. Faecal Incontinence and Constipation in the Elderly; J.A. Barrett. Section IX: Conclusion. 26. Defaecatory Dysfunction: Some Unanswered Questions; J.E. Lennard-Jones. Index.