title: An evidence-based review of the use of transanal irrigation in children and young people with neurogenic bowel.
abstract: METHODS
  Evidence-based review.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness and acceptability of transanal irrigation in children and young people with neurogenic bowel.
  
  
  METHODS
  International literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic databases were searched supported by hand-searching strategies to conduct a comprehensive literature review in accordance with Centre for Reviews and Dissemination procedures guidelines. Sixteen studies were selected for inclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studies indicate that transanal irrigation can be an effective treatment for children and young people with constipation or faecal incontinence as a result of neurogenic bowel (90%, n=346 children). Transanal irrigation is reported as improving quality of life and family's satisfaction with their bowel management, although the procedure is invasive, time consuming and can impact negatively on child, parent and family life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transanal irrigation may be considered as a first line treatment option for children and young people with neurogenic bowel but further research is required to prove the efficacy and acceptability of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust and Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, Edge Hill University, Liverpool, UK. brayl@Edgehill.ac.uk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D055496:Neurogenic Bowel / Q000628:therapy*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D055815:Young Adult