New to bowel management?

When a patient is suffering from constipation or fecal incontinence, his/her doctor will typically recommend lifestyle changes such as a diet that is high in fiber and/or the regular use of laxatives (taken orally or as a suppository). Another treatment option is an enema. The type of enema that most people are familiar with is a retrograde enema; this means the irrigation fluid is administered from the “bottom up” (the fluid is administered into the anus).

For patients with severe constipation or incontinence, dietary changes and retrograde enemas may not be sufficient. These patients may need what is known as an Antegrade Continence Enema (ACE): Antegrade (ante = before), Continence (self-control), Enema (infusion of fluid).

During the ACE, irrigation fluid is administered into the beginning of the large intestine (also known as the large bowel or colon) and allowed to flush from the “top down”. ACE is typically recommended for patients who have not responded to conservative treatments but are in need of a solution.