What is treatment-related bowel leakage?

Following a surgery or radiation treatment you may experience a lack of control over the muscles that control your rectum, resulting in stool leakage.

How do people describe bowel leakage?

Individuals who experience bowel leakage have described embarrassment in discovering stool seepage or "smears" of stool in their undergarments. Most individuals are unaware of these episodes due to a loss of "bowel cues".

What causes bowel leakage after surgery?

Surgery can cause changes in bowel habits. Following surgery, nerve pathways may be temporarily interrupted resulting in the inability to feel the urge to defecate, causing loss of voluntary control over the muscles that control the rectum.

How do people cope with bowel leakage?

• Establish a routine, well-balanced diet that includes fluids, bulk (such as metamucil) and roughage to facilitate stool moving through the bowel.
• If stool leakage interferes with social activities it may help to institute a bowel movement scheduling program. Trying to maintain a regular, predictable schedule for bowel movements (for example: every morning after breakfast) can decrease or eliminate the chance of involuntary stool passage. Accidents can be prevented by evacuating any stool in the rectum before planned periods of activity.
• Plan a consistent, appropriate time for bowel movements. Keep a record of your bowel schedule that includes time, stool consistency, assistive method(s) used, number of involuntary stools, if any leakage of stool from the rectum.
• Assistive methods consist of prune juice and/or warm beverages, exercise and body positioning. Rectal stimulation (mechanical) and use of stool softeners/suppositories (chemical) should be used at set intervals. Whatever assistive method you use, it is important that you do it at the same time of day so that you develop a habitual, predictable response.
• Wear protection. Use Attends, Depends or other incontinence guards until leakage is under control. You may want to carry extra incontinence pads or an extra pair of slacks when going out.
• Provide meticulous skin care to the area. Cleanse skin after each leakage episode and apply a cream or ointment to the area.
• If bowel control does not improve, discuss with your doctor other medical options.

• Be open and honest with your partner.
• Fully and calmly discuss your problem as well as your thoughts and feelings.
• Ask for your partner's thoughts, feelings and ideas.
• Brainstorm possible solutions. Post your final plan

What symptoms should you report to the nurse?

Let your doctor or nurse know if these measures do not control your bowel leakage. In addition, you should let them know if:

• You have bloody or hard stools.
• You have a temperature of 100.5F (380C) or greater
• You are unable to keep down liquids
• You become dizzy
• You experience abdominal pain, especially sharp pain

Who can I call to get more information?

Contact your urology doctor or nurse if you are experiencing bowel leakage. They will assist you in initiating a bowel management program that is right for you.

Monitoring Bowel Program: Documentation Record

This information was conducted in affiliation with the Walther Cancer Institute, Indianapolis, IN