Risk of anal incontinence in women with inflammatory bowel diseases after delivery

AIM The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the development of postpartum anal incontinence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to healthy women. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with IBD and healthy controls enrolled in the study from January 1st 2013 to November 30th 2016 and filled in the anal incontinence questionnaire in the beginning of pregnancy and after vaginal delivery. The results were statistically processed using suitable tests. RESULTS A total of 57 women were enrolled, 17 (29.8 %) with ulcerative colitis, 23 (40.4 %) with Crohn's disease, and 17 (29.8 %) healthy controls. Incidence of postpartum anal incontinence is comparable across all groups; there was no statistically significant difference between the IBD and control groups (Kruskal-Wallis test by ranks with Dunn correction, non-significant). Postpartum anal incontinence was strongly correlated with the extent of perineal injury (r = 0.80; p < 0.0001; Pearson's linear correlation). CONCLUSIONS Women with inflammatory bowel disease in remission do not exhibit higher incidence of postpartum anal incontinence (PPAI) compared to healthy controls; the key correlate of PPAI appears to be the extent of obstetric injury, consistently across all study groups. These results suggest that concerns about postpartum anal incontinence development should not be an indication for Caesarean section in IBD patients (Tab. 6, Fig. 1, Ref. 34).