Articles and Webinars

The majority of individuals with SCI experience significant symptoms related to neurogenic bowel dysfunction. For example, 42% experience constipation and as many as 77% experience fecal incontinence.

Bowel dysfunction is a condition that can have many different causes. There could be a neurological disease in the spine/brain pathways which affects the bowel control, or an obstruction, and for some individuals there are no underlying medical reasons why the bowel does not function.

In order to determine the correct treatment pathway, it is essential to undertake a detailed assessment. Components must include an assessment of the persons general health, previous abdominal and colorectal surgery, medications, plus functional ability to reach the toilet, cognition and awareness of bowel sensations, and current bowel management.

Constipation is one of the most common symptoms and could be divided by the cause of the symptoms into primary and secondary constipation.

Fecal incontinence (FI) is the symptom that is ranked as the most bothersome for patients. FI is also the most under reported due to the taboo nature and embarrassment associated with it.

Low Anterior Resection is a surgery to remove cancer of the rectum. The part of rectum containing the tumor is removed and the remaining part of the rectum is reconnected to the colon. The surgical procedure saves the sphincter in up to 90% of the surgeries and by that avoids permanent colostomy.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong neurological condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system. Not all people will experience the same symptoms.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition. PD develops when cells in a part of the brain, substantia nigra, stop working properly and are lost over time.

In this article you will find a good start on your learning about the bowel with a summary of the function of the digestive system, the organs involved and its neurological control.

Transanal irrigation, shortened TAI, may also be called retrograde, rectal or anal irrigation, which all refers to a minimal invasive technique to empty the bowel.

Careful patient selection, supervised training and follow up are considered as essential factors to achieve an optimal result and long-term adherence of TAI.