The impact of antegrade continence enemas on bladder function in patients with neurogenic bladder and bowel

In neurologically intact children with constipation and lower urinary tract symptoms, treatment of constipation frequently results in improved or resolved lower urinary tract symptoms. The impact of treatment of constipation on bladder function in children with a neurogenic bowel and bladder is not well studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of antegrade continence enemas (ACE) via Chait tube on urodynamic study (UDS) parameters and urinary continence in patients with neurogenic bowel and bladder (NGB). We hypothesized that following ACE some patients would demonstrate improved UDS parameters and improved urinary continence. A review of patients with NGB who underwent a cecostomy was performed. Inclusion criteria required UDS within 12 months before and after Chait tube placement and no change in clean intermittent catheterization or anticholinergic medications. UDS parameters assessed included bladder capacity, bladder compliance, and bladder stability. In addition, the frequency of antegrade continence enemas and encopresis were reviewed as was the frequency of UTIs before and after the surgery. 8 children met inclusion criteria, including 5 girls and 3 boys, with a mean (range) age of 8.5 years (5–13). All children were on clean intermittent catheterization and 7 were on anticholinergic medications. The patients demonstrated a significant improvement in constipation and encopresis (p