Colo-Rectal and Anal HELP Center

What is Bowel Control Disorder?
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You are not alone. As many as 1 in 13 adults have significant problems with bowel control but are too embarrassed to discuss it—even with their doctor. While fecal incontinence is a common consequence of childbirth and the aging process, many sufferers incorrectly think there are no real solutions.

Treatments for BCD offered at PREVITY

SECCA Procedure
WHAT IS SECCA?
SECCA Therapy is an innovative treatment option for patients suffering from FI (Fecal Incontinence). SECCA does not utilize implants, incisions or stitches and takes approximately 45 minutes. SECCA is performed in an outpatient setting. SECCA is for patients who have failed to respond to first line therapies, who are not surgical candidates, or do not want to undergo invasive surgery or a foreign body implantation.

HOW SECCA WORKS

1. Energy is delivered to the tissue of the anal canal

2. Multiple small tissue contractions are formed

3. Anal sphincter function is significantly restored

Most SECCA patients start to see an improvement in 4 to 6 weeks; however, for some people the improvement may take as much as 6 months to be noticeable. SECCA patients may have some discomfort for up to a week, but generally return to their normal activities within 1-2 days.

EFFECTIVE RESULTS
In clinical trials evaluating the SECCA procedure, up to 80% of patients experienced a clinical response to treatment. Additionally, there were fewer side effects with SECCA than with surgery. Failure to improve after this treatment does not prevent patients from having surgery at a later date.

FAQs

Is the SECCA Treatment for Me?

Some patients are able to control fecal incontinence by altering their diet, taking fiber supplements, or taking anti-diarrheal medications. Others may benefit from biofeedback (muscle retraining). However, for many patients, these treatments are not effective in controlling symptoms. If you are one of these patients, the SECCA procedure may be an attractive choice for you.

What can patients expect in terms of improvements in fecal incontinence?

Patients typically begin to experience improvement 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. This improvement may continue up to 6 months. Clinical studies have shown that up to 80% of patients reported improvement in fecal incontinence, though it may temporarily worsen for a short time, due to antibiotics and stool softeners prescribed after the procedure.

Will I experience any pain during or after the SECCA procedure?

Most patients experience little or no discomfort during the procedure. After the procedure, some minor discomfort is possible for up to 5 days. Such discomfort can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medications recommended by your doctor.

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