The Use of an Antegrade Continence Enema Stopper in Catheterizable Channels Virtually Eliminates the Incidence of Stomal Stenosis: Preliminary Experience

PURPOSE: We report the effectiveness of an antegrade continence enema stopper device in preventing stomal stenosis in catheterizable channels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases in which a channel was created for clean intermittent catheterization during a 5-year period beginning in May 2002 were included in the analysis. For the first 31 months the catheterizable channels were used for clean intermittent catheterization but were not kept patent between catheterizations (group 1, 19 patients). For the next 29 months we began to use an antegrade continence enema stopper in the stoma between catheterizations for a period of 3 to 6 months postoperatively (group 2, 14 patients). RESULTS: A total of 33 catheterizable channels were studied. Six catheterizable channels in group 1 (32%) had to be revised within 6 months of reconstruction. No catheterizable channel in group 2 had to be revised. This difference is statistically significant (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: An antegrade continence enema stopper inserted into the catheterizable channel for 3 to 6 months postoperatively effectively eliminates the incidence of stomal stenosis.