Effective bowel management for patients after spinal cord injury.
After loss of ability to ambulate, the loss of voluntary control of bowel function has been described as the second most distressing aspect of life following spinal cord injury (SCI) (Glickman and Kamm, 1996). It may be the most distressing for the newly injured person (Rogers, 1991). The significance of this loss and the importance of effective management are emphasised by DeLisa and Kirshblum (1997) who suggest that 'establishing an effective bowel programme is critical because incontinence may interfere with a patient's physical, psychological, social, recreational, and sexual function'.
Coggrave
Maureen
M
D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*