2019 Volume 10 Pages 9-13
Ozeki M, Kagaya H, Shibata S, Onogi K, Sugiyama T, Saitoh E. Transanal irrigation for bowel dysfunction in chronic stage of spinal cord-injured patients. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2019; 10: 9-13.
Objective: To investigate the efficacy of transanal irrigation (TAI) for patients with spinal cord injury who experience subjective symptoms, such as abdominal distension, due to constipation that has not been well managed.
Methods: An irrigation kit was used to perform TAI on 8 patients with spinal cord injury (mean age, 44 years). The patients had the following injury sites: cervical spinal cord (2 patients), thoracic spinal cord (4 patients), lumbar spinal cord (1 patient), and sacral spinal cord (1 patient). Before and after the irrigation procedure, we assessed the time spent on defecation, time interval between defecations, constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, defecation management methods, and defecation status using a visual analogue scale (VAS). At the last follow-up, we examined the usage of irrigation, constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, and defecation management methods.
Results: Irrigation was possible for all patients included in this study. No changes were observed in the time spent on defecation or the interval between defecations. However, we did observe a significant decrease in constipation and a significant improvement in VAS after the irrigation procedure. Four patients were continuing the use of irrigation at the last followup. Including the 2 patients who discontinued irrigation because their defecation management improved, satisfactory results were observed in 6 patients.
Conclusion: Irrigation using an irrigation kit was effective for bowel dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury.
