Children with fecal incontinence and constipation are divided into three groups: those with neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) caused by spinal cord abnormalities (NBD), those with refractory constipation (RC), and those with anorectal malformations (RC) (ARMs). The Food and Drug Administration authorized the transanal irrigation (TAI) device in 2012. This method employs balloon occlusion of the rectum and uses a pump rather than gravity to introduce water as a colonic irrigant. The purpose of this study was to see how successful TAI was in children who had failed to react to conservative treatments for stool incontinence and constipation. A retrospective analysis of 147 patients who received TAI between January 2014 and January 2020 was conducted. Demographics, past bowel regimen, symptoms before and after, patient satisfaction levels, and NBD scores were all gathered. Several bowel regimes, including laxatives, cone enema, and cecostomy, have previously been attempted. The majority of patients have NBD, predominantly spina bifida, with RC and ARM following. There was a substantial reduction in symptoms of fecal incontinence and constipation across all patient groups. The NBD and RC groups experienced less abdominal pain, while the ARM group did not.
A single-center evaluation of a large juvenile cohort treated with TAI for fecal incontinence and constipation is presented. In individuals with NBD, RC, and ARM, Peristeen provided substantial improvement.