“Bowel Management” program for children with congenital malformations and neurogenic bowel after surgery

BACKGROUND: After the surgical treatment of children for anorectal malformations, spinal pathology, and Hirschsprung’s disease, their quality of life is significantly reduced due to fecal incontinence. For patients with persistent defecation disorders, the “Bowel Management” program is offered. AIM: This study analyzes the “Bowel Management” program implemented in the clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective analysis of the program used in children after surgical correction of malformations was conducted. The program comprised the following components: lectures for patients/parents, hospitalization, irrigography with water-soluble contrast, teaching patients/parents about cleansing enemas, keeping a bowel movement diary, plain abdominal X-ray, changing the recipe for enema solution, monitoring the effectiveness, and correcting recommendations. RESULTS: A total of 66 children from 1.5 to 17 years old were treated. Three groups were identified: (I) anorectal malformations ( n = 26), (II) spinal pathology ( n = 30), and (III) Hirschsprung’s disease ( n = 10). The results were considered satisfactory if the bowel cleansing procedure was painless for the child and did not cause stress reactions; the parents were satisfied with the result of the prescribed program if after the enema a sufficient amount of stool was removed within 45 minutes, there were no episodes of defecation during the day. With the help of the Rome IV revision criteria, fecal incontinence was noted in all cases against the background of stool retention. In 11 (16.7%), there was no fecal incontinence even in cases of prolonged stool retention. A correlation was found between “high” lesions (in the lumbar spine) in spinal hernias with the absence of fecal incontinence with prolonged stool retention compared with the “low” sacral localization of the hernia. In group I, 91.7% had spinal cord fixation. In group II, 86.7% had it, and none were present in group III. The effectiveness of the program was 83.3%. CONCLUSION: The Bowel Management is easy to use and effective in 83% of patients. It can be recommended for the rehabilitation of children with defecation disorders, fecal incontinence after surgical correction of congenital malformations (anorectal malformations, spinal pathology and Hirschsprung's disease).