Bowel and Bladder Health - Hydrocephalus Canada

Bladder & Bowel Continence for Individuals with Spina Bifida

If you or a loved one are managing bowel or bladder issues related to spina bifida, you’re not alone. Hydrocephalus Canada offers information, support, and connections with others who share their experiences and tips.

Many individuals with spina bifida have a neurogenic bowel or bladder, meaning the nerves that signal the need to go may not function properly. Achieving continence is important for health, independence, and well-being and requires ongoing support from healthcare providers.

This section provides guidance to help you manage bowel and bladder continence. For one-on-one support, email [email protected] or call 1-800-387-1575. Great additional resources are available throughout this page from our partner, Coloplast.

BOWEL CONTINENCE

Most people living with spina bifida will experience bowel issues related to having what’s called a neurogenic bowel (explained in detail below). Each person’s bowel program is based on individual needs and which methods work best for you. To manage bowel continence you may need to explore a variety of options before you find the right fit for you. A good bowel program aims to keep stool firm, empty the bowel at a specific time daily or every few days and not to have any bowel accidents.

The Neurogenic Bowel

Most individuals with spina bifida will have common bowel problems related to the damage to the nerves responsible for the sensation of bowel fullness and emptying. Constipation, impaction, diarrhea and bowel accidents are all possible. Signs of bowel problems can include hard stool, no stool, poor appetite, abdomen is enlarged and feels hard, blood in the stool or loose stool that leaks around the hard stool.

Exercise, drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet high in fiber can help in achieving a bowel program that works for you.

If a bowel management program is not effective, surgical treatments are available.

Bowel Management Programs/Methods

Habit training
Digital stimulation
Disimpaction
Stool softeners and bulk formers
Suppositories
Laxatives
Enemas, fleets and enema continence catheters
Diet and exercise

Exercise, drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet high in fiber can help in achieving a bowel program that works for you.

BLADDER CONTINENCE

Most individuals with spina bifida experience bladder function issues due to nerve damage that disrupts communication between the bladder, sphincter muscles, spinal cord, and brain. The degree of bladder control varies depending on the location and extent of the lesion. Bladder management programs are tailored to each person’s needs and the methods that work best for them.

The primary goal is to protect kidney function and manage urinary continence. When the bladder doesn’t work properly, it may not empty fully, and urine can flow back into the kidneys. This can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other serious health complications.

How to Avoid a Urinary Tract Infection / Comment Eviter Les Infections Urinaires

Our partner in bladder health, Coloplast Canada, has some great information on avoiding urinary tract infections:

Regular visits to a urologist is paramount. These visits could include various tests to monitor your bladder and kidneys such as a renal and bladder ultrasound, renal scan, intraveious pyelogram (IVP), voiding cystourethrogram, urodynamics, cystoscopy and urine tests.

The Neurogenic Bladder

People with spina bifida, particularly the myelomeningocele form, “have impaired autonomic [nerve] function and may therefore have absent or minimal sensation of bladder fullness and an inability to initiate the voluntary, coordinated process of urination.” (Sandler, Adrian (1997). Living With Spina Bifida, A Guide for Families and Professionals, University of North Carolina Press, p.25). Autonomic nerves are responsible for transmitting messages from organs to the brain. In this instance, the message that your bladder is full does not get properly sent to the brain. Also, the nerves that control voluntary muscles like the urinary sphincter and the relaxation and contraction of the bladder itself don’t work properly. This miscommunication between your brain and bladder can cause several problems including:

Proper management can help avoid these problems that can lead to life-threatening issues! There are too many tragic stories to sit back and do nothing. Bladder infections and other problems are serious and need to be treated quickly.

How Does the Bladder Work? / Comment la vessiefonctionne-t-elle? SB and Bladder Function

Urinary Continence Programs/Methods:

Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC)
Other types of catheters-condom catheter, indwelling foley catheter, suprapubic catheter
Medication
Crede technique (pushing on bladder with your fingertips)
Urinary diversions-ileal-conduit, continent stoma, vesicostomy, Mitrofanoff procedure
Surgical intervention-bladder augmentation, sphincter tightening
Biofeedback and electrical stimulation
Botox treatments

An effective bladder program will reduce common problems such as UTI’s, overfull bladder, bladder and kidney stones, reflux, hydronephrosis and bladder accidents. Even the food you eat and what you drink can make a difference in the health of your bladder.

Click here to check out this NEW Bladder Health Guide from Coloplast! This eBook covers essential topics like UTIs, hand hygiene, and everyday bladder routine tips. Plus, learn from catheter user Dina’s personal experience with self-catheterization.

Canadian nurses no longer support the re-use of intermittent catheters

Sponsored content by Coloplast Canada.

We care about your health and well-being and we want to let you know about an important change to Canadian clinical recommendations for intermittent catheter use. As of 2020, Canadian nurses no longer support the re-use of intermittent catheters.1Instead, Canadian urologists and nurses recommend single use intermittent catheters, ideally those that are hydrophilic or pre-lubricated.

Keep your bladder healthy

UTIs are a constant concern for catheter users. The new Canadian recommendations for catheter use recognize this, and work to help Canadian catheter users keep their bladder healthy.

We are happy to continue our partnership with COLOPLAST CANADA in
in providing information on bowel and bladder health.

Re-using intermittent catheters causes unnecessary bacteria contamination, which may result in urinary tract infections
(UTIs).

Single-use hydrophilic or pre-lubricated catheters are recommended because they appear to lower the risk of UTI, may result in less urethral trauma, and have a higher convenience and ease of use compared to conventional uncoated catheters.

The Coloplast Care team can help you explore your reimbursement options

Product reimbursement in your province can be complex and overwhelming. The Coloplast Care team can help you identify where to apply to get coverage for your catheters. The Care team can also help you follow the necessary steps, and can provide the Coloplast Letter of Recommendation to you. The letter can provide additional support for your claim, by giving providers a rationale as to why you need a specific catheter.

For more information please contact us at 1-866-293-6340 or at [email protected]

*findings not specific to Coloplast catheters

Clean Intermittent Urethral Catheterization in Adults – Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Nurses. Developed by Nurses Specialized in Wound, stomy and Continence Canada, Canadian Nurse Continence Advisors, Urology Nurses of Canada, and Infection Prevention and Control.1st Ed. 2020.

Can Urol Assoc J 2020;14(7):E281-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.6697

Coloplast Market Study_IC Research_2015_Data on file

Bogaert GA, Goeman L, de Ridder D, Wevers M, Ivens J, Schuermans A. The physical and antimicrobial effects of microwave heating and alcohol immersion on catheters that are reused forclean intermittent catheerisartion. Eur Urol. 2004;46(5):641-6

Chan JL, Cooney TE, Schober JM. Adequacy of sanitization and storage of catheters for intermittent use after washing and microwave sterilization. J Urol. 2009;182(4 Suppl):2085-9

COLOPLAST CANADA Sponsored content

Le personnel infirmiercanadienn’est plus favorable à la pratique de réutilisation des cathétersintermittents

Votresanté et votre bien-être nous tiennent à cœur. C’estpourquoi nous souhaitonsvous faire part d’uneimportante modification des lignes directrices canadiennesen matière d’utilisation des cathétersintermittents. Depuis 2020, le personnel infirmiercanadienn’est plus favorable à la pratique de réutilisation des cathéters intermittents1.

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La réutilisation des cathétersintermittentsentraîne des risques de contamination bactériologique, ce qui peut causer des infections des voiesurinaires (IVU).

Les cathéters hydrophiles à usage unique ouprélubrifiéssontrecommandés, parcequ’ilssemblentréduire les risquesd’IVU, éviter les dommagesurétraux et s’avèrent plus pratiques et faciles à utiliserencomparaison avec les cathétersclassiques non lubrifiés.*

L’équipe Coloplast Care peutvous aider à explorer les options de remboursement qui s’offrent à vous

Le remboursement du produit dans votre province peutêtrecomplexe et fastidieux. L’équipe Coloplast Care peutvous aider à trouverune assurance pour voscathéters. L’équipe Care peutégalementvous aider à suivre les étapes nécessaires et vousremettre la Lettre de recommandation de Coloplast. Motivant la raison pourlaquellevousdevezutiliser un certain type de cathéter, la Lettre de recommandation de Coloplast vientappuyervotredemande de remboursementauprès des fournisseurs.

N’hésitez pas à communiquer avec nous par téléphone au numéro sans frais 1 (866) 293-6340 ou par courriel à l’adresse [email protected]

*Résultats non spécifiques aux cathéters de Coloplast.