Urinary Continence Management after a Stroke Liz Mackey, CNC Stroke Clinical Coordinator Western Health
Royal Women s Hospital
Innervation of the Bladder Neuromuscular coordination for control of both storage and elimination...ans Motor & sensory input locally in the sacral region As the bladder fills, micturition contractions occur (stretch sensors)... Cyclical (contract / relax)... More frequent as bladder fills... Impulses to external sphincter inhibit micturition LOCALLY (spinal cord reflex) Bladder emptying inhibited by brain (frontal & motor areas)...until the brain allows micturition
Urinary incontinence Common condition following a stroke Incidence ranging from 38% to 60% (1)
Why do so many stroke patients have urinary continence issues? Area of brain AND Parts of the body affected by the stroke Altered level of consciousness / cognition Aphasia / dysphasia Weakness / hemiparesis Altered mood Brain PTO
Areas of the brain involved in voiding Pons inhibits and facilitates. Neural off / on switch. Cerebral cortex Several areas. Mainly inhibitory but can become excitatory. Frontal lobes? role in inhibition of detrusor contraction
Why is it important to assess continence after stroke? Incontinence is a strong predicator of outcome following stroke, its presence being highly predictive of a poor outcome (Meschia & Bruno, 1998)... The limited evidence suggests that the greatest impact on urinary incontinence may be in the acute phase of rehabilitation after stroke......increase discharge destination options
Why is it important to assess continence after stroke? Establishment of continence is good for morale and self-esteem.
Stroke & main incontinence sub-types Hypotonic bladder Flaccid bladder Retention Hypertonic bladder Hyperreflexic bladder Frequency (frequent desire to void) Urgency (intense desire to void immediately) and Urge incontinence
Case Study 1 Hypotonic bladder
Mrs H, 80 year old, Admitted to ED with an acute L) middle cerebral artery stroke Aphasic R) sided weakness Thrombolysis, improved function of R) side but remained expressively dysphasic Admitted to Neuro-Medical ward, late Tuesday evening
Wednesday mid-morning on ward, post thrombolysis: Patient RIB for 24 hours (post thrombolysis protocol) Nil orally, awaiting Speech Assessment IV therapy 83ml/hr Bowels opened Wednesday morning. Written up for routine aperients (but Nil Oral)
Urinary Assessment Patient dysphasic unable to obtain history Never discussed by patient with family Frequent use of pan for small voids (100-150ml) since admission, as well as incontinence pad in situ for urinary dribbling Patient appeared comfortable
Abdominal assessment Large palpable bladder (up to umbilicus) Bladder Scan >1000ml
Diagnosis Hypotonic bladder: Immediately after a stroke, hypotonic bladder function is common. Weak or absent bladder contractions resulting in failure to empty the bladder may lead to over-distension and overflow incontinence (Gross, 2003).
Urinary Plan After discussion with nurse caring for patient and medical team: 1. Check patient s bowels. If constipated given enema. 2. Offer pan to pass urine 3. Check Post-Void Residual (PVR) within 10-15 minutes of voiding (using the bladder scanner) 4. If PVR > 150ml, perform in-out (intermittent) urinary catheterisation 5. Offer pan regularly 6. Repeat steps 2-5 until PVR < 150ml
Implementation 1 st void (PVR > 150ml) + in-out catheter = 1250ml 2 nd void (PVR > 150ml) + in-out catheter = 800ml 3 rd void (PVR > 150ml) + in-out catheter = 750ml Nursing staff followed plan for 24 hours.
Evaluation There was no residual urine post-void by Thursday morning (i.e. approx 36 hours post- Stroke)
Hypotonic bladder Retention Aetiology Bladder hypotonia - usually LMN lesions, but in stroke possibly frontal lobe areas injury.
Hypotonic bladder Retention Characteristics Frequent to nearly continuous dribbling Palpable bladder Urine flow rates decreased Large Post Void Residual (PVR)
Interventions Catheterisation: Intermittent Indwelling Relaxation exercises Double voiding Hypotonic bladder Retention
Retention Common, especially right after a stroke Approx 50% of stroke patients have urinary retention problems for the first 72 hours. Improves quickly Less than 25% have retention problems at three weeks post stroke
Treatment of Retention using Intermittent Catheterisation Intermittent in-out sterile urinary catheterisation NSF guidelines recommends Closed System Ability to volitionally void and empty the bladder usually returns... Continue to evaluate a patient's sensation of the need to void and to toilet patients on a regular basis (2)
Indwelling Catheterisation vs Intermittent Catheterisation Management of Short Term Indwelling Urethral Catheters to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections, Joanna Briggs Institute, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2000 (3) Study examined postoperative patients. Compared urinary bacteria in patients with an IDC versus in-out catheters. Reduced incidence of bacteriuria with intermittent catheters
Case Study 2 Hypertonic bladder
Monday Mr J, 67 year old, Admitted to Neuro-Medical ward with an acute L) stroke Expressive and Receptive Dysphasia R) sided weakness and neglect Nil orally, IV therapy. For NG feeding Written up for routine aperients (but Nil Oral)
Urinary Assessment No difficulties prior to admission according to wife Incontinent of urine small amounts, frequently Containment pad in situ
Abdominal assessment Bladder not palpable Bladder Scans 0-30ml
Diagnosis Hypertonic bladder: The more common symptoms after stroke are frequency, urgency and urge incontinence Hypertonic bladder activity is a major factor. Contraction of the bladder wall in response to bladder filling cannot be effectively controlled. bladder capacity is often reduced (Gross, 2003).
Urinary Plan After discussion with multidisciplinary team: 1. Perform Full Ward Test for urine to eliminate bacteriuria (looking for leukocytes and nitrates) 2. Check patient s bowels. If constipated given enema.
Urinary Plan 3. Multi-disciplinary team approach: Assessment of need to void / voiding patterns, including maintenance of Fluid Balance Charts / toileting charts Facilitation of communication Assessment of ability to transfer Assistance with transferring from bed to commode / toilet / tilt-commode Assessment of adequate hydration Administration of fluids Medication prescription & administration
Urinary Plan 4. Ensure patient close to toilet 5. Ensure call Bell in reach 6. Toilet patient regularly ideally on commode. Use pan / bottle if RIB 7. Timed toileting 8. Appropriate clothing 9. Appropriate containment pads 10.Prevention of skin irritation and breakdown.
Evaluation Sent to rehabilitation with plan in place to help improve continence Plan continued in rehabilitation. Working on increased bladder capacity and decreasing frequency and urgency Three-months post-stroke, wife reported social continence attained.
Hypertonic bladder Frequency, Urgency & Urge Incontinence Hyperreflexic bladder Uninhibited bladder Characteristics Frequent voiding Urgency, Small volume voiding, Ability to inhibit urine flow or stop stream impaired +/- residual urine
Hypertonic bladder Frequency, Urgency & Urge Incontinence Aetiology Inhibitory input from the pons lost / impaired UMN lesions Excess of reflex bladder activity
Hypertonic bladder Frequency, Urgency & Urge Incontinence Other Interventions As per Case Study 2 and Eliminate bladder irritants Prompted voiding Pelvic floor exercises Urge suppression Medications
Hypertonic bladder Frequency, Urgency & Urge Incontinence Medications Oxybutynin (anticholinergic) smooth muscle relaxant: reduces contraction of detrusor muscle decreases urgency symptoms improves bladder control Side effects (dry mouth, constipation)
Resources and Clinical Guidelines National Stroke Foundation Guidelines for Management of Acute Stroke and Rehabilitation after Stroke www.strokefoundation.com.au Getliffe, K,. & Dolman. M., 2003 Promoting continence: a clinical resource 2 nd ed. Bailliere Tindall Continence Foundation of Australia www.continence.org.au Australian Government s Bladder & Bowel website http://www.bladderbowel.gov.au/ Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) Continence Tools for Residential Aged Care Links to continence resources
References 1. Borrie MJ, Campbell AJ, Caradoc-Davies TH, Spears GF. Urinary incontinence after stroke: a prospective study. Age Ageing. 1986;15:177 181. 2. Gross, JC., Urinary Incontinence After Stroke: Evaluation and Behavioural Treatment". Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation of the Elderly Patient with Stroke: Part 1. 19(1):60-83, January/March 2003. 3. Evidence Based Practice Information Sheets for Health Professionals Management of Short Term Indwelling Urethral Catheters to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections, Joanna Briggs Institute, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2000 Abrams P, Lowry SK, Wein AJ, Bump R, et al. Assessment and treatment of urinary incontinence, The Lancet; Jun 17, 2000; 355, 9221; Health Module p.2153 Browne BJ (2005). Rehabilitation of the stroke patient. In HF Conn et al., eds., Conn's Current Therapy, pp. 1016 1021. Philadelphia: Saunders. Guyton, A., & Hall, J., 1996 Textbook of medical physiology 9 th ed. WBSauders, Philadelphia
References Ostaszkiewicz, J., O Connell, B. & Ski, C. 2008. A guideline for the nursing assessment and management of urinary retention in elderly hospitalised patients. Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal 14(3):76-83 Ostaszkiewicz J, Johnston L, Roe B. Habit retraining for the management of urinary incontinence in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD002801. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002801.pub2. Ostaszkiewicz J, Johnston L, Roe B. Timed voiding for the management of urinary incontinence in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD002802. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002802.pub2 Thomas, L; Barrett, J; Cross, S; French, B; Leathley, M; Sutton, C; Watkins, C., Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Incontinence After Stroke in Adults Stroke, Volume 37(3), March 2006, pp 929-930 [Cochrane Corner] Ed: Hankey, G.