P.140 The clinical outcomes of patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus and fecal incontinence

Abstract

Background: Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterized by the clinical triad of dementia, gait disturbance, and urinary incontinence. An initial case series by Hakim and Adams highlighted that all patients exhibited this triad, with only one presenting with fecal incontinence. This study aims to examine the outcomes of individuals experiencing fecal incontinence who have undergone ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS). Methods: A systematic review and surgical case series was conducted, involving consecutive adults diagnosed with NPH and treated with VPS between September 2016 and September 2022. Results: In the cohort of 85 patients, the median duration of NPH symptoms was 3.2 years. Gait and balance symptoms were prevalent in all patients, while cognitive, bladder, and bowel symptoms were observed in 85.9%, 91.8%, and 23.5% of cases. No significant differences were noted in age, sex, neurologic diseases presence, or lower gastrointestinal or pelvic pathology. The prevalence of fecal incontinence pre-surgery, within less than 3 months, and 3 months post-surgery were 23.5%, 32.9%, and 17.6%. The systematic review search yielded 515 articles, and 18 included patients with fecal incontinence. Conclusions: The insights gained from the systematic review and cohort offer a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes observed in patients with NPH and fecal incontinence following VPS.