Ingrid Ehrén1,2,3, Lena Lindbo1, Hanna Gabrielsson1,4,5, Martina Bendt1,6, Åke Seiger1,6. 1. Rehab Station Stockholm, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Department of Urology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. 5. Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
AIM: To map voiding patterns, degree of continence, use of drugs for voiding disorders, kidney function and surgical interventions but also the bowel function in a near-total regional cohort of adults with spina bifida aged more than or equal to 18 years. METHODS: All individuals more than or equal to 18 years of age with spina bifida registered at a regional outpatient clinic (n = 219) were invited to participate, of which 196 persons were included. Bladder and bowel function were assessed according to questions used by the Nordic Spinal Cord Injury Registry by structured interviews and questionnaires in combination with review of patient charts including kidney function. RESULTS: Twenty percent of the patients voided spontaneously. Fifty-four percent used clean intermittent catherization (CIC) and of these, 14% had also undergone augmentation of the bladder and/or implantation of an artificial sphincter or sling, 23% had undergone major urological surgery, and 3% had an indwelling catheter. Seventeen percent of patients voiding spontaneously or using CIC reported total continence but as many as 36% reported daily leakage. Anticholinergics was the most common drug, used by 21% in the total cohort. About 13% of the patients had a reduced kidney function but only 1.5% had end stage renal failure. Seventy-three percent had problems emptying the bowel and 18% experienced fecal leakage weekly or even daily. CONCLUSION: We found a large variation in problems with bladder and bowel function in this adult group of persons with spina bifida. A structured customized program for follow-up seems necessary to optimize their health status in these areas.
AIM: To map voiding patterns, degree of continence, use of drugs for voiding disorders, kidney function and surgical interventions but also the bowel function in a near-total regional cohort of adults with spina bifida aged more than or equal to 18 years. METHODS: All individuals more than or equal to 18 years of age with spina bifida registered at a regional outpatient clinic (n = 219) were invited to participate, of which 196 persons were included. Bladder and bowel function were assessed according to questions used by the Nordic Spinal Cord Injury Registry by structured interviews and questionnaires in combination with review of patient charts including kidney function. RESULTS: Twenty percent of the patients voided spontaneously. Fifty-four percent used clean intermittent catherization (CIC) and of these, 14% had also undergone augmentation of the bladder and/or implantation of an artificial sphincter or sling, 23% had undergone major urological surgery, and 3% had an indwelling catheter. Seventeen percent of patients voiding spontaneously or using CIC reported total continence but as many as 36% reported daily leakage. Anticholinergics was the most common drug, used by 21% in the total cohort. About 13% of the patients had a reduced kidney function but only 1.5% had end stage renal failure. Seventy-three percent had problems emptying the bowel and 18% experienced fecal leakage weekly or even daily. CONCLUSION: We found a large variation in problems with bladder and bowel function in this adult group of persons with spina bifida. A structured customized program for follow-up seems necessary to optimize their health status in these areas.