| Abstrakt: |
Spinal cord injury commonly affects bowel function which can have significant negative impacts on individuals' rehabilitation, life choices, community participation and emotional stability. Therefore, one of the goals of in-patient rehabilitation is to achieve a regular, reliable and socially acceptable bowel routine. This goal typically entails conservative management through titration of aperients, close monitoring of diet and fluid intake, promotion of daily exercise and routine evacuation. For some clients with spinal cord injury however, achievement of a routine is not possible through these management strategies. Where the conservative pathway is unsuccessful, consideration is given to referral for colorectal review to asses for stoma formation and/or funding submissions for extra care. Trans anal irrigation systems have long been available but are not widely used because, anecdotally, anal irrigation is thought to be too invasive and also fraught with complications such as excess irrigation that may result in electrolyte imbalance or damage to the anal canal. However, clinical evidence from trials in Europe, where anal irrigation is more widely used and culturally accepted, contradicts this (del Popolo et al., 2008). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
