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Year 2007, Volume 19 / Issue 4

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.v19.i4

Pages: 84

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.v19.i4.10

Article price - $55.00

Management of Bowel Dysfunction in Neurological Rehabilitation - A Review

Raji Thomas
Centre for Neuro-Rehabilitation and Neuro-Psychiatry, Walkergate Park, Benfield Road, Newcastle uponTyne, NE6 4QD, UK

Barbara Chandler
Centre for Neuro-Rehabilitation and Neuro-Psychiatry, Walkergate Park, Benfield Road, Newcastle uponTyne, NE6 4QD, UK

Bowel dysfunction is common in patients with neurological disease and can impact all aspects of a patient's life. Physical and psychological well-being can be affected in addition to the ability to participate in social and family life. It is important to address this issue and plan an effective management program for the patient. Because people are often too embarrassed to discuss it, it is recognized as a hidden symptom of disease, and therefore the healthcare professional must be pro-active in assessing bowel function. The management of the neurogenic bowel dysfunction is helped by understanding the patho-physiology. Most patients can be treated by conservative methods and few require surgical intervention. However, time must be given to elucidating the nature of the bowel problem and exploring with the patient and/or caregivers the most appropriate management regime. New methods of management are becoming available through specialist units. Within the rehabilitation setting, management is often based on experience and anecdotal evidence, with only few well-controlled studies. This article reviews the nature and prevalence of the problem and the current evidence for the various techniques available for management. There is a clear need for further research in this area.

pages 251-274

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