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Neurogenic bowel dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis: prevalence, impact, and management strategies

Preziosi, G; Gordon-Dixon, A; Emmanuel, A; (2018) Neurogenic bowel dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis: prevalence, impact, and management strategies. Degenerative Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease , 8 pp. 79-90. 10.2147/DNND.S138835. Green open access

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Abstract

Bowel dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is highly prevalent. Constipation and fecal incontinence can coexist and alternate, impacting on the patient's quality of life and social interactions, as well as burdening the caregivers. The cost for the health care providers is also significant, with increased number of hospital admissions, treatment-related costs, and hospital appointments. The origin is multifactorial, and includes alteration of neurological pathways, polypharmacy, behavioral elements, and ability to access the toilet. Every patient with MS should be sensitively questioned about bowel function, and red flag symptoms should prompt adequate investigations. Manipulation of life style factors and establishment of a bowel regime should be attempted in the first place, and if this fails, other measures such as biofeedback and transanal irrigation should be included. A stoma can improve quality of life, and is not necessarily a last-ditch option. Antegrade colonic enemas can also be an effective option, whilst neuromodulation has not proved its role yet. Effective treatment of bowel dysfunction improves quality of life, reduces incidence of urinary tract infection, and reduces health care costs.

Type: Article
Title: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis: prevalence, impact, and management strategies
Location: New Zealand
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.2147/DNND.S138835
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.2147/DNND.S138835
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2018 Preziosi et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms. php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).
Keywords: constipation, fecal incontinence, multiple sclerosis, neurogenic bowel dysfunction
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Inst for Liver and Digestive Hlth
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10065588
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