Bowel continence for the child with a neurogenic bowel.

For more than 10 years, the Alfred I. duPont Institute's Spinal Dysfunction Clinic in Wilmington, DE, has helped families and their children with myelomeningocele and neurogenic bowels to establish workable, acceptable, physiologically sound bowel programs. The basic bowel management program at the Alfred I. duPont Institute is described here, as is a program by which a child with a neurogenic bowel can obtain continence. The program is based on the child's developmental level, physiological abilities, and any necessary pharmacologic intervention. The program has enabled approximately 75% of its child patients over age 5 with neurogenic bowel to be continent of stool.