Standardization of the technique to perform the transanal therapeutic irrigation

• Autor(a) principal: Beatriz Deoti e Silva Rodrigues
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Kelly Cristine de Lacerda Rodrigues Buzatti, Nícolas Pablo Diogo Quintão, Gustavo Monteiro Oliveira, Marcela Monteiro Pinheiro, Francielle Profeta Rodrigues, Rodrigo Gomes da Silva
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFMG
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/1843/43170
• topic: Traumatismos da medula espinhal; Incontinência fecal; Qualidade de vida; Irrigação terapêutica

Purpose This article aims to present a standardization of the technique of transanal therapeutic irrigation, which is an old technique that has passed through history and is now used as a medical procedure to assist in the treatment of defecation disorders. Methods This protocol was developed in patients with myelomeningocele submitted to the standard transanal therapeutic irrigation technique, in accordance with the protocol established at the Clinic of defecation disorders at a public university hospital in Brazil. The presented standard technique highlights the following topics: preparation of the patient before the treatment; interdisciplinary approach; training of the patient or the family member responsible for the patient and the step-by-step technique itself. The research ethics committee at the university approved this study. Discussion Transanal therapeutic irrigation is indicated in neurogenic bowel dysfunctions and functional disorders of defecation. Training the patient or a family member responsible for irrigation is performed on three consecutive days, all of them supervised by the nurse. This technique aims to re-establish control over defecation and bowel function, and consists in an infusion of warm tap water through the anus, which allows the patient to evacuate daily the stool and keep the colon empty for longer periods. This avoids fecal incontinence and increases the quality of life of patients with defecation disorders. Conclusion Transanal therapeutic irrigation is an effective, well-tolerated and safe procedure, which is better compared to the standard clinical care.