TY - JOUR T1 - Trans-anal irrigation should be offered to patients with severe bowel dysfunction JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 136 LP - 136 DO - 10.3399/bjgp19X701573 VL - 69 IS - 680 AU - Caroline Mary Byrne AU - Abhiram Sharma AU - Karen Telford Y1 - 2019/03/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/69/680/136.abstract N2 - Severe bowel dysfunction can present with faecal incontinence (FI), constipation, or both, and can have neurogenic and non-neurogenic aetiologies. The prevalence in the population for patients experiencing at least one episode of FI per month is high, with up to 12.4% affected.1 The prevalence of severe functional constipation is less well documented, but together these patients present a significant health burden to primary and secondary care. Last year the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published medical technology guidelines supporting the use of trans-anal irrigation (TAI) in patients with bowel dysfunction as it can reduce the severity of constipation/incontinence, improve quality of life, and promote dignity and independence.2 The benefits of TAI in patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction secondary to spinal cord injuries are long established, and supported by the only randomised controlled trial by Christensen et al in … ER -