Use of a new transanal irrigation device for bowel disorder management by patients familiar with the irrigation technique: a prospective, interventional, multicenter pilot study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of transanal irrigation (TAI) with a new medical device incorporating an electric pump, the IryPump®R Set. METHODS: An interventional, prospective, open-label, non-comparative, multicenter pilot study on TAI was conducted at three French university hospitals. Patients with experience of TAI were enrolled for a 1-month period during which 5 consecutive TAIs were performed using the IryPump®R Set (B.Braun Melsungen AG Melsungen, Germany). The study’s primary efficacy criterion was successful TAI, defined as (i) use of the patient’s usual irrigation volume of water, (ii) stool evacuation, and (iii) the absence of leakage between TAIs. The first two TAIs were not taken into account in the main analysis. The secondary outcome measures were device acceptability, bowel dysfunction scores, tolerability, and safety. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included between November 2016 and May 2017, and 14 were assessed in the main analysis. The TAI success rate was 72.4% (21 out of 29 procedures). The bowel dysfunction scores at the end of the study did not differ significantly from those recorded on inclusion. A high proportion of patients (> 70%) reported that TAI was feasible with the new medical device. There were no serious adverse events or device-related adverse events. At the end of the study, 50% of the participants were willing to consider further use of the new device. CONCLUSIONS: In patients familiar with TAI, using a new medical device incorporating an electric pump was feasible. Levels of patient satisfaction were high, especially with regard to comfort of use and a feeling of security during TAI. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s10151-020-02212-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.