Objective:

To evaluate EAUS-detected changes in IAS morphology after nonablative 1470-nm diode laser therapy in patients with mild-to-moderate fecal incontinence and explore the association between these changes and clinical outcomes, including manometric and quality-of-life measures.

Approach:

• Assessment Methods: Endoanal ultrasound was used to measure IAS thickness, length, and defect length before treatment and at specified intervals post-treatment.

Key Findings:

• The study aimed to determine if nonablative laser therapy leads to measurable changes in IAS morphology.
• It explored the relationship between these sonographic changes and clinical, manometric, and quality-of-life outcomes.

Interpretation:

The study seeks to clarify whether symptom improvement from laser therapy correlates with objective changes in IAS detected by EAUS.

Limitations:

• The sample size of 30 patients is small and exploratory, limiting the generalizability of findings.
• No prior controlled studies established expected effect sizes for the treatment.

Conclusion:

The study aims to provide preliminary data on the effects of nonablative laser therapy on IAS morphology in patients with fecal incontinence.