Development of a decision guide for transanal irrigation in bowel disorders

Abstract

Transanal irrigation (TAI), which has emerged as a therapy for patients with bowel dysfunction, can aid emptying of the bowel and help to re-establish control of bowel function by choosing the time and place of evacuation. Because of the ever-growing numbers of TAI systems available, choosing the optimal equipment can be overwhelming. Therefore, a consensus review of best practice from a working party of experts was thought to represent the most appropriate means of arriving at clinically meaningful advice. This led to the production of an article as well as a decision-guide booklet to aid choice of equipment, initiation, patient education, regimen setting and follow-up. These are designed to help healthcare providers initiating TAI to make optimal decisions for each individual patient.