Fecal transplants or FMT (fecal microbiota therapy) have proven to be quite effective in many diseases. As for instance in trails on patients with C.difficile infection (it is a type of diarrheal diseases which is often life threatening as well as resistant to antibiotics), feces infusion resulted in curing ninety four percent of all patients taking part in the trial.
FMT as a Safe Procedure
Many gastroenterologists consent that FMT is a safe procedure apart from being effective for C. diff infection. American College of Gastroenterology also recently reported that there are no reports yet of any complications or negative effects caused by fecal transplant procedure. In case you are suffering from ulcerative colitis or C. diff then FMT would mean you will have to poop less often and can live a normal life.
The Procedure
In case of treatment of C. diff, it is common to have just one transplant or sometimes a short series. However, those suffering from inflammatory bowl diseases such as Crohn or Ulcerative Colitis generally prefer to follow long-term strategy. There are people who have been part of tests for fecal transplants to cure Ulcerative Colitis and have benefited s much that they continued it at home to let the intestine heal completely.
Hospital Transplants and Do-it-yourself
In a hospital, generally such transplants are performed using colonoscopy equipment to permeate the sample into the colon. Other option is to send a tube down from nose to pass though stomach. In case you are looking for do-it-yourself options then easiest thing is to utilize enema bottles as one of the delivery methods.
The Future Ahead
Still many questions need answer in relation to this new form of treatment, known as fecal transplants. Some questions that need clear answer include:
- The issue of whether it is necessary to match the donor with patient,
- If healthy stool will suffice and donor need not be matched,
- Is it possible that some patients respond well to the transplant treatment while other do not?
- Is it necessary that a fresh sample should be used and if it is not mandatory then how it can be stored in a proper way?
- In future, will it be possible to use probiotic synthetic blend that will be able to replace poop?
Summary:
There are numerous benefits of fecal transplant in many diseases which oftentimes are life threatening and have the tendency to reoccur. FDA has decided to regulate this treatment technique as investigational new drug but proponents of this transplant treatment do believe in its usefulness.