Stroke related bladder and bowel dysfunction

• Urinary incontinence is defined as ‘the complaint of any involuntary loss of urine’ ⁽¹⁾
• Urinary incontinence commonly occurs after stroke ^{(2, 3, 4)}. The prevalence in acute stroke ranges from between 30 and 79% and is nearly 20% in long term stroke survivors ⁽⁵⁾
• With correct identification of type of urinary incontinence and appropriate rehabilitation and treatment approximately 70% can be cured, or their symptoms greatly improved ⁽⁶⁾
• Faecal incontinence is involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool ⁽⁷⁾
• Bowel dysfunction and faecal incontinence commonly occur after stroke ⁽⁸⁾
• 5% of stroke survivors have major faecal incontinence ⁽⁸⁾
• To maintain continence requires normal function of the bladder and bowel and normal function of the rectum, anus, pelvic floor muscles and nervous system and awareness of the need to empty the bladder and/or bowel.

References can be found at the end of this section of the module.

Page last reviewed: 07 Feb 2022