Management of bowel dysfunction in children with spinal cord disease or injury by means of the enema continence catheter.

Because bowel dysfunction in children with spinal cord impairment is a common and disabling problem that does not have adequate treatment, we evaluated the enema continence catheter developed in Toronto, Canada. Thirty-one children and their families were taught to administer a 20 ml/kg saline enema through this device. The children's bowel functions were evaluated 18 and 20 months after the start of the program. Six of the children dropped out of the study in the first 2 weeks and nine dropped out after between 18 and 30 months. For those remaining in the study, the proportion of continent stools rose from 28% to 94% (p less than 0.01); constipated stools dropped from 55% to 15% (p less than 0.01). Satisfaction with the bowel program increased, and five children were able to switch from diapers to lined underwear. No adverse effects were reported, and the amount of time required for toileting did not increase. Although compliance with the regimen was difficult for some families and its use carries potential risks, we believe that it can provide significant improvement in the bowel care of selected persons with spinal cord impairment.