Bowel Management
Needs and aims
The need for bowel management:
- Loss of sensation of need for defecation (Amir et al 1997)
- Loss of control of defecation
- Massive slowing of stool passage through the bowel (Leduc et al 1997)
The aims of bowel management:
- Regular and predictable emptying of the bowel at a socially acceptable time and place
- Avoiding constipation, unplanned evacuations and autonomic dysreflexia
(De Looze et al 1998) - Managing bowels wiithin a ‘reasonable time’ (Harari et al 1997)
- Using minimum necessary physical or chemical interventions
- Maintaining short and long-term gastrointestinal health.
Longer term targets for successful bowel management:
- Physical or verbal independence
- Establishing a reliable routine
- Being able to adapt routine back in the community
- Carers educated where appropriate
- Appropriate equipment and/or adaptations in place.