Remember to always start with a comprehensive evaluation and training by a qualified healthcare professional prior to your first irrigation with Peristeen Plus Transanal Irrigation System.
When starting out on their Peristeen Plus journey, some users may struggle with the newness of a new bowel management routine and learning not only how the system works, but also how to make it work best for them. Establishing and following a consistent routine will help achieve a better evacuation.
Remember that you should always follow the Instructions for Use (IFU) provided with the product and directions from your healthcare professional. Reference this guide to help you build a better bowel management routine.
Preparing for your irrigation with Peristeen Plus
Preparation is key to achieving desired outcome.
Sarah, US – born with spina bifida, “I remember when I first got Peristeen I thought straight away I needed to get organized. One of the first things I did was get a cart – I call it my "poop train" – so I can just wheel it into the bathroom and I have everything I need right there.”*
Strive for privacy
Make sure that you can get access to a private bathroom and allow for plenty of time to empty your bowels without interruptions. If used properly, you should expect the irrigation to take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.
Take your time preparing
When it comes to Peristeen® Plus, the better prepared you are, the better your irrigations are likely to be. Take your time to prepare and set up the products as well as any accessories you might need in your bathroom. Make sure you have everything on hand before you begin.
Accessories can be helpful
Keep a plastic bag nearby. It can be useful for disposing used catheters, gloves and wipes.
Minimize clean-up
Bowel irrigation can be messy for some, especially as you start to retrain your bowels. The more prepared you are, the less hassle you may have. Consider having some paper towels or extra towels on hand to help with clean-up.
During: tips during your next irrigation with Peristeen Plus
Everyone is different. Succeeding with Peristeen Plus is about developing a system that works for you. Don’t forget to reference tips you've received from your healthcare professional during your first training. It takes practice to achieve better evacuations.
Keep your legs elevated
After removing the rectal catheter, consider bending your knees up and placing your feet on a footstool. The squat position can help your bowels evacuate by decreasing the pressure in your pelvic region. Make sure you're sitting comfortably. Some users place a cushion behind their backs for support. For best results, sitting upright or slightly reclined is recommended.
Extra help to get things moving
Some people find that it helps to gently twist their upper body several times at the end of the irrigation. Gently massaging your stomach clockwise or bending over and touching your toes may also help.
Temperature matters
Always use clean tap water with a temperature of 93- 104°F, with body temperature being optimal. Check that the water temperature indicator on the water bag is green before proceeding with irrigation. When in doubt, run the water over your wrist to ensure it feels lukewarm. Water that is too hot may harm the delicate lining of the bowel; water that is too cold may cause cramping.
Keep your supplies nearby
Have your Peristeen Plus system and rectal catheters ready. Optimize the placement of the kit so it fits your bathroom layout. Keep any other supplies nearby so that they are within reach when you are sitting on the toilet.
When your irrigation is complete
Tara, 51, UK – spina bifida, “After irrigation, I use a mirror to check the color of the water dripping from rectum. If it’s clear, I know I’m empty and I’ve had a successful irrigation. If not, there might be more, so I wait a while, stretch my arms and massage my stomach.”*
Take care of your Peristeen Plus system
After your bowel irrigation procedure, it is important that you clean, rinse and dry your Peristeen Plus system.
Read more about how to take good care of your system here.
Store your system in a convenient place
Store your Peristeen Plus system at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, and ensure the tubes are not kinked. Remember to keep the gray lid to use on the next bag until it's time to replace the entire system (every 90 uses). Keep any additional supplies needed for the procedure and clean-up nearby as well, so it is easier for you to start your irrigation next time.
Take a shower after
Taking a shower after using Peristeen Plus may help ease any concerns about personal hygiene.
Information from Coloplast® Care is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted to contain treatment recommendations. You should rely on the healthcare professional who knows your individual history for personal medical advice and diagnosis. Prior to use refer to product labeling for complete product instructions for use, contraindications, warnings and precautions.
Indication: The Peristeen® Plus Transanal Irrigation System is intended to instill water into the colon through a rectal catheter, which incorporates an inflatable balloon, inserted into the rectum to promote evacuation of the contents of the lower colon. The Peristeen Plus Transanal Irrigation System is indicated for use by children (2 years - <12 years old), adolescent (12 years - < 18 years old), transitional adolescent (18 - <21 years old) and adult patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction who suffer from fecal incontinence, chronic constipation, and/or time-consuming bowel management procedures.
Contraindications: Peristeen Plus Transanal Irrigation must not be used in the following situations: known anal or colorectal stenosis, colorectal cancer (active/recurrent), radiotherapy to the pelvis, and recent abdomino-perineal surgery, active inflammatory bowel disease, acute diverticulitis, severe diverticulitis, previous diverticulitis and diverticular abscess, chronic symptomatic diverticular disease, within 3 months of abdominal, anal or colorectal surgery, within 4 weeks of endoscopic polypectomy, recent colonic biopsy, recent endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and recent endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection (ESD), severe autonomic dysreflexia, ischemic colitis, during Spinal Cord Shock Phase, complex diverticular disease, in patients who are pregnant and have not used the system before*. Since the list is not exhaustive, the healthcare professional should always consider individual patient factors as well. *If the patient is pregnant and has never used transanal irrigation before, they should not start the irrigation procedure during pregnancy.
Warnings: Peristeen Plus Transanal irrigation procedure should always be carried out with caution. Bowel perforation is an extremely rare, but serious and potentially lethal, complication to transanal irrigation and will require immediate admission to a hospital, often requiring surgery. See the device manual for complete user instructions, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and potential complications/adverse events. For further information, call Coloplast Corp at 1-855-605-7594 or consult the company website at www.coloplast.us. Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
*Sarah and Tara received compensation from Coloplast to provide this information. Each person’s situation is unique, so your experience may not be the same. Talk to your healthcare professional about which product might be right for you.
