Bowel Function and Care - Guidelines for the Care of People with Spina Bifida

Authors

Patricia Beierwaltes, Minnesota State University, MankatoFollow
Paige Church, University of Toronto
Tiffany Gordon, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Lusine Ambartsumyan, University of Washington

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-22-2020

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Bowel dysfunction, such as constipation and fecal incontinence, has a significant impact on health, activities of daily living, and quality of life among people with spina bifida. Secondary complications may result from bowel dysfunction and include urologic dysfunction, loss of skin integrity, shunt (hydrocephalus) function, as well as loss of social opportunities and employability.

METHODS:

Using a consensus building methodology, the guidelines for management of bowel dysfunction in spina bifida were written by experts in the field of spina bifida and bowel function and care.

RESULTS:

The evidence-based guidelines are presented in table format and provide age-specific recommendations to achieve fecal continence without constipation. Recommended treatments are presented from least to most invasive options. Literature supporting the recommendations and the interval research published to date is also presented.

CONCLUSION:

These guidelines present a standardized approach to management of bowel dysfunction in spina bifida. Bowel management in children and young adults with spina bifida is limited by variability in clinical practice and paucity of robust research in neurogenic bowel. Collaborative multi-institutional efforts are needed to overcome research barriers and provide innovative solutions.

Department

School of Nursing

Print ISSN

1874-5393

Publication Title

Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine

Recommended Citation

Beierwaltes, P., Church, P., Gordon, T., & Ambartsymyan, L. (2020). Bowel function and care - Guidelines for the care of people with Spina Bifida. Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, 13, 491-498. https://doi.org/10.3233/PRM-200724

DOI

10.3233/PRM-200724

Link to Publisher Version (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.3233/PRM-200724

Publisher's Copyright and Source

Copyright © 2020 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

This article is published online with Open Access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

This article was first published in Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, 13, 491-498. https://doi.org/10.3233/PRM-200724

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License