Rectal irrigation, which is the introduction of warm tap water through the anal canal into the rectum to initiate defaecation, is recommended to be considered in patients with chronic constipation, which is refractory to conservative measures such as lifestyle modification, laxatives, nurse-led bowel retraining programmes which focuses on bio-feedback as well as psychosocial support.
Two systems of rectal irrigation are available based on volume delivered, low and high volume. It is unknown if one type of irrigation is superior to the other and whether one type has better outcomes in patients with a particular pathology.
Therefore, a comparison is required between the two types of irrigation to assess their acceptability as a therapy and response rates in patients with chronic constipation secondary to difficulty emptying rectum.
This trial/research aims to compare low-volume rectal irrigation with high-volume rectal irrigation in patients with chronic constipation secondary to disorders of difficulty emptying rectum.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* if one type of rectal irrigation is superior to the other * whether one type of rectal irrigation has better outcomes in patients with a particular pathology on pelvic floor ultrasound * assess the acceptability and response rates to rectal irrigation.
Participants upon recruitment will be allocated to either low-volume rectal irrigation or high volume rectal irrigation groups. This will purely be by chance where the possibility of being in either of the groups will be 50%. They will then undergo a baseline assessment with four quality-of-life questionnaires and clinical examination. Following this a pelvic floor ultrasound will be performed to assess the cause of their symptoms. Lastly they will be provided training on using rectal irrigation (the type they have been assigned to). They will then be asked to commence irrigation at home from the next day.
Participants will continue to use irrigation for three months and then have a three-monthly follow-up where the quality of life questionnaires will be filled again. This data will then be used to assess any improvement in symptoms after using rectal irrigation. After three months of using rectal irrigation, participation in the trial will come to and end.
All adult patients over 18 years who have self-reported problematic constipation secondary to evacuation disorders
With symptom onset of more than 6 months
Symptoms must meet American College of Gastroenterology definition of constipation which is symptoms including unsatisfactory defecation with either infrequent stools, difficulty in passing stool or both for at least previous 3 months (25)
All should have tried and failed conservative management (laxatives, life-style modification and bio-feedback)
Major colorectal resection surgery, pelvic floor surgery to address defaecatory problems such as posterior vaginal repair, STARR, rectopexy and sacral nerve stimulation within last three months
Pregnancy
Active rectal bleeding
Colorectal cancer