title: Use of Peristeen® transanal colonic irrigation for bowel management in children: a single-center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transanal colonic irrigation has been shown to be effective in bowel management program in adults. However, there exist limited data in children. We appraised the effectiveness of this technique in a series of children with incontinence or constipation and overflow soiling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following ethical approval, a review of children with incontinence or constipation on a bowel management program with Peristeen® transanal colonic irrigation treated between 2007 and 2012 was performed. Irrigations were performed with a volume of 10-20 ml/kg of water with schedules depending on patient response. Data are reported as median (range).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients were reviewed. Median age at commencement of irrigations was 7 (2-15) years. Median follow-up is 2 (0.7-3.4) years. Diagnoses include the following: spina bifida (n=11), anorectal anomaly (n=6), Hirschsprung's (n=1), and other complex anomalies (n=5). Sixteen (70%) patients had associated anomalies. Twelve (52%) had constipation and overflow soiling, and 11 (48%) had fecal incontinence. Twenty (87%) had associated urinary wetting. Sixteen (70%) children used alternate-day irrigations, 4 (17%) daily irrigations, and 3 (13%) every third-day irrigations. Nine (39%) patients were taking oral laxatives. Sixteen (70%) reported to be clean and 3 (13%) reported a significant improvement, although were having occasional soiling. Four patients (17%) did not tolerate the irrigations and underwent subsequent colostomy formation for intractable soiling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, Peristeen® transanal colonic irrigation is an effective method of managing patients with focal soiling in childhood. Majority (83%) of children achieve social fecal continence or a significant improvement with occasional soiling. This was accompanied by high parental satisfaction. Peristeen® transanal colonic irrigation is a valid alternative to invasive surgical procedures and should be considered the first line of treatment for bowel management in children with soiling where simple pharmacological maneuvers failed to be effective.
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: maurizio.pacilli@nhs.net.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Pacilli
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Pallot
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors: Afiya
authors: A
authors: Andrews
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Downer
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors: Louiza
authors: L
authors: Dale
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Willetts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bowel management; Constipation; Fecal incontinence; Neurogenic bowel; Soiling; Transanal colonic irrigation