Long-term safety of pulsed irrigation evacuation (PIE) use with chronic bowel conditions.

We wanted to determine the long-term effects of pulsed irrigation evacuation on the colon. Sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy was performed on four patients with spinal cord injuries who have used this procedure an average of 3.5 times weekly, for an average of 6.7 years. No gross or microscopic abnormalities were identified in any of these individuals. Impactions as well as other complaints were markedly diminished or absent following the initiation of this therapy. Pulsed irrigation evacuation is a safe and effective method for long-term treatment of chronic neurogenic bowel.