Clinical evaluation of a flexible fecal incontinence management system.(Critical Care Evaluation)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Medical condition overview)(Clinical report)

Background Management of fecal incontinence is a priority in acute and critical care to reduce risk of perineal dermatitis and transmission of nosocomial infections.

Objective To evaluate the safety of the Flexi-Seal Fecal Management System in hospitalized patients with diarrhea and incontinence.

Methods A prospective, single-arm clinical study with 42 patients from 7 hospitals in the United States was performed. The fecal management system could be used for up to 29 days. The first 11 patients (all from critical care) underwent endoscopic proctoscopy at baseline; 8 of these had endoscopy again after treatment. The remaining 31 patients (from critical or acute care) did not have endoscopy.

Results Rectal mucosa was healthy after use of the device in all patients who had baseline and follow-up endoscopy. Physicians and nurses reported that the system was easy to insert, remove, and dispose of; its use improved management of fecal incontinence; and it was practical, caregiver- and patient-friendly, time-efficient, and efficacious. Skin condition improved or was maintained in more than 92% of patients. Patients' reports of discomfort, pain, burning, or irritation were uncommon. Adverse events were reported for 11 patients (26%). Death (considered unrelated to study treatment) occurred in 5 patients, 2 patients had generalized skin breakdown, and 1 patient had gastrointestinal bleeding after 4 days of treatment.

Conclusion The fecal management system can be used safely in hospitalized patients with diarrhea and fecal incontinence. Additional well-designed, controlled clinical trials may help to measure clinical and economic outcomes associated with the device. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2007;16:384-393)

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Diarrhea is a common problem that complicates treatment and may worsen patients' outcomes. In a prospective study, (1) 33% of hospitalized patients had fecal incontinence during hospitalization, including more than twice as many patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) compared with acute care units (58% vs 24%). A total of 79% patients had liquid or semiliquid stool, and these patients were 11 times more likely than patients with hard or soft formed stool to have fecal incontinence. Fecal incontinence is an established risk factor for pressure ulcers, (2-4) which increase morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and treatment costs. (5) It is also a risk factor for transmission of nosocomial infection. (6) Therefore, management of fecal incontinence is a priority in ICUs and acute care units.

The first step in management is to identify and, if possible, eliminate the source of the incontinence. (7) However, fecal incontinence in hospitalized patients, particularly in intensive care, often is of unknown cause, the result of multiple factors, or the result of another treatment that cannot be discontinued. Therefore, interventions that divert and contain feces often are essential to reduce perineal dermatitis in hospitalized patients. Protection of the skin from exposure to moisture and chemical damage from stool becomes a priority.

The Flexi-Seal Fecal Management System (FMS; ConvaTec, Division of E. R. Squibb & Sons, LLC, Princeton, New Jersey) is indicated for the fecal management of patients with little or no bowel control and liquid or semiliquid stool? The device consists of a soft silicone cannula approximately 1 m long with an annular silicone low-pressure balloon at the distal end and a pouch flange adapter at the proximal end that connects to the collection bag. The catheter balloon is collapsed to permit nontraumatic insertion into the rectal vault. The balloon is wrapped around the free end of the tubing and has a finger pocket for introducing the catheter through the anal sphincter (Figure 1A). The catheter cannula is 23 mm in diameter and collapses to 8 mm in diameter for insertion.

The balloon is coated with lubricating jelly and is inserted through the anal sphincter until the balloon is well inside the rectal vault. The balloon is then inflated with 45 mL of water or saline to a diameter of about 53 mm with less than 57 mm Hg pressure supplied by a standard syringe (Figure 1B). The cannula has 2 lumens, each 1 mm in diameter, integrated with the wall. Each lumen is interconnected to its own free length of silicone tubing bifurcating from the main cannula approximately halfway between the proximal and distal ends. The free end of each piece of tubing has a standard Luer valve connector. One lumen is interconnected with the balloon and serves as an inflation-deflation line. The proximal end of the cannula is stretched over a plastic adapter that can be hung from the bed rail and used to attach the collection bag.

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

This study was conducted as part of the development of FMS before the system was marketed in the United States. Our primary objective was to describe the safety of the device in hospitalized patients who were experiencing diarrhea and incontinence. Secondary objectives included evaluations of FMS performance and ease of use.

Methods

Study Design

A prospective, single-arm, descriptive clinical study with 42 patients from 7 hospitals in the United States was done. Each study center had at least one physician as the investigator, and most centers had a registered nurse who was the study coordinator (see "Acknowledgments"). The study protocol was approved by an institutional review board for each study site, and the study was conducted in accordance with the principles of good clinical practice and the ethical standards set forth in the Helsinki Declaration of 1975.

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