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Functional Assessment of Intestinal Motility and Gut Wall Inflammation in Rodents: Analyses in a Standardized Model of Intestinal Manipulation
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Transanal irrigation and intestinal transit time in children with myelomeningocele

A Marte1, M Borrelli

  • 1Pediatric Surgery, Naples, Italy. antonio.marte@yahoo.it

Minerva Pediatrica
|May 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Transanal irrigation (TI) significantly improves bowel emptying in children with myelomeningocele (MMC)-related constipation. This safe and effective method enhances intestinal transit, offering a solution for refractory cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Neurology
  • Colorectal Surgery

Background:

  • Myelomeningocele (MMC) frequently impairs colorectal motility, causing chronic constipation and fecal incontinence.
  • Conventional treatments often prove insufficient for managing bowel dysfunction in children with MMC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of transanal irrigation (TI) in improving intestinal transit time in pediatric patients with MMC.
  • To assess TI's impact on bowel emptying in a cohort resistant to standard therapies.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 16 pediatric patients (ages 4-17) with MMC-related chronic constipation.
  • Radiopaque markers were used to track intestinal transit over 72 hours.
  • Abdominal X-rays were performed before and after TI to quantify marker progression.

Main Results:

  • Transanal irrigation demonstrated a significant improvement in intestinal bolus progression.
  • The number of markers in the intestinal lumen decreased significantly post-TI (from 30±7.37 to 10.62±6.29).
  • The procedure was found to be safe and effective for promoting intestinal emptying.

Conclusions:

  • Transanal irrigation is a safe and effective therapeutic option for bowel dysfunction in children with MMC.
  • TI significantly enhances intestinal emptying and bolus progression in refractory cases.
  • This intervention offers a valuable addition to the management of constipation in this population.
Abstract

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