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Urinary and Bowel Complications After Stroke

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Management of Post-Stroke Complications

Abstract

Urinary and bowel complications are fairly common after stroke. Post-stroke urinary incontinence is a prevalent condition up to 2 years after stroke. Short-term and long-term year stroke survival, disability, handicap, and institutionalisation rates are adversely influenced by post-stroke urinary incontinence. Bowel function is often affected following a stroke, resulting in complications of faecal incontinence and constipation. Communication and mobility difficulties resulting from stroke may further contribute to bladder and bowel problems. A proactive patient-centred approach to assessing and managing these problems is essential to improving stroke outcomes. Healthcare professionals should address these common complications and be aware of strategies to assess and actively manage them, with the aim of regaining continence, which is associated with better stroke outcomes. Good continence care has a multitude of benefits for stroke patients and their carers. Although continence may not always be restored, several interventions can be instituted to improve the patient’s quality of life, which in turn may improve their engagement with stroke rehabilitation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stroke, Geriatric and General Medicine, Department of Ageing and Health, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK

    Zehra Mehdi MRCP, FHEA

  2. Stroke, Geriatric and General Medicine, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham, UK

    Mehool Patel MBBS, MD, FRCP, MAcadMEd

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  1. Zehra Mehdi MRCP, FHEA
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  2. Mehool Patel MBBS, MD, FRCP, MAcadMEd
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Correspondence to Zehra Mehdi MRCP, FHEA .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ageing and Health, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

    Ajay Bhalla

  2. Department of Ageing & Health, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

    Jonathan Birns

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Mehdi, Z., Patel, M. (2015). Urinary and Bowel Complications After Stroke. In: Bhalla, A., Birns, J. (eds) Management of Post-Stroke Complications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17855-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17855-4_8

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