Antegrade continence enema stoppers: a pilot study on patient preferences

Severe constipation can have a major impact on a child's quality of life and that of their families. Forming an antegrade continence enema (ACE) can be a transformational intervention to manage severe symptoms. However, operations can also have unpredictable negative consequences such as stomal stenosis or leaks from the ACE site.

To investigate whether the choice of an ACE stopper can increase patient satisfaction and compliance.

A service evaluation with a standardised questionnaire was completed to assess quality of life and explore factors that have an impact on the preference for which ACE stopper was used.

In total, 17 patients completed the evaluation of all three ACE stopper devices. At least 75% of the children improved their stooling pattern with an overall satisfaction rate of 8.5 out of 10. More patients preferred a flexible stopper but no one device was strongly preferred over the others.

The study shows that an ACE has a positive impact on quality of life. With regards to the choice of ACE stopper, results show that different stoppers suit different individuals, highlighting that there is a place for a choice. This is useful information for healthcare providers who wish to improve compliance and reduce the risk of complications in this patient group.