London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Anal sphincter repair
SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR ANAL INCONTINENCE
This surgical operation can repair a damaged sphincter and relieve anal incontinence
What is your anal sphincter and how can it be damaged?
The anal sphincter is a ring of muscle that controls the exit of faeces out of your body.
Sometimes, the sphincter can be damaged, usually while giving birth. When this happens, it can lead to faecal incontinence (difficulty controlling your bowels).
We can carry out surgery to repair the gap and restore your normal bowel movements.
Need to know
Your consultant will make a cut in the tissue between your genitals and anus. This will help them to locate the damaged sphincter. After doing this, they'll overlap the ends of the damaged muscle to make a complete ring around the anus. They'll hold the repaired sphicnter together using stiches. The procedure takes around one hour and is carried out under general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep.
You'll most likely be admitted to hospital on the day of the procedure. You may need to have an enema to clear out your bowels. You'll also meet with your anesthetist and consultant, who'll explain the procedure and asnwer any questions you might have. Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you.
After surgery, we'll transfer you to our recovery ward where you'll stay for three to five days. We may also put on you on a drip for 24 hours to keep you hydrated. If you had a catheter (urine drain tube) inserted into your bladder during the operation, we'll remove it before you leave. Your consultant will let you know when you can leave the hospital and get back to your usual routine. They'll also explain any post-operation pain relief.
Our Anal sphincter repair locations
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Digestive Centre
41 Welbeck Street W1G 8EA London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.