Laparoscopic appendicostomy for management of fecal incontinence.

Fecal incontinence from any cause is a socially unacceptable condition and a major detriment to educational and psychosocial development in young people with certain disabilities. Recently several procedures have been described that allow antegrade colonic enemas in the treatment of this problem. We report here an additional method of establishing this proximal colon access, namely laparoscopic appendicostomy. Although not applicable to all patients, this procedure has been successful in a select group with excellent results, and we recommend its consideration when open surgery is not otherwise required.