A Clinical Investigation Evaluating Peristeen® Performance

The Peristeen system is a non-surgical, FDA-cleared, Class II device for the treatment of patients with neu-rogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) who have failed conservative bowel management treatment and would otherwise be considered candidates for surgery. (Note: The Peristeen pump with connectors and tubing only is considered to be a FDA class I device. When associated with the rectal balloon catheters, the Peristeen system is considered a class II device thereby giving the entire System an overall designation of class II.) The Peristeen system is a non-surgical, manual system, consisting of a control unit (featuring a pneumatic bulb pump and a four-position rotary switch), a water bag (featuring a pressure relief valve), tubes and con-nectors up to a lubricated catheter which is inserted into the anal canal to allow water to enter the bowel. The system is also accompanied by straps to secure the system on the thigh while being used. The Peristeen catheter is equipped with a balloon which may be inflated or deflated with air once positioned in the rectum. Peristeen has been on the market globally since 2006 and marketed in the US since 2012. More than 10,000 patients worldwide have been using Peristeen, with over 3,000 patients in the U.S (United States).

Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBD) as defined by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Re-habilitation, is an, "impairment of the gastrointestinal and anorectal function from a lesion in the nervous system." These neurological lesions can come from a range of disease states, such as, but not limited to spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) . Numerous publications and findings have been conducted in humans using Peristeen, with over 120 publications in just the past 5 years.

As a result of the inability to evacuate the bowel, NBD patients experience fecal constipation, fecal impaction, and/or a failure to contain stool in the bowel (i.e., fecal incontinence). These defecation disturbances can be severe enough that they can increase a patient's risk for repeated emergency care. The prevalence of NBD is well documented and occurs in both children and adults. For example, not only do these constipation issues prevail in children and young adults with spina bifida, approximately one third of the NBD patients are fecally incontinent. These resulting complications with bowel management results in an increased risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs), due to the anatomical proximity of the bowel and lower urinary tract. Specific to SCI patients, literature reports that 95% require more than one intervention to initiate defecation.

Quality of life for this patient population has been observed to decline as the severity of NBD increases and patients with SCI report that bowel dysfunction has a greater negative impact on life than any other SCI-related impairment with approximately 50% reporting moderate-to-severe NBD symptoms. The symptoms of NBD and the inability to management their bowels can cause significant emotional distress, affecting self-esteem, personal relationships, and social life.

The time required for bowel management is also a factor of a NBD patient's life. Many patients with NBD spend a significant part of their day on bowel management with 14% to 63% spending more than 1 hour on each episode. Furthermore, complete assistance from a care giver is required by 23% and some help is required by 12%. Peristeen's ergonomic design, leg strap, pump mechanism, inflatable balloon, makes it possible for immobilized patients or those with poor hand function to conduct the procedure them-selves, thereby allowing for personal independence and privacy/discreteness.

Peristeen is differentiated from standard bowel care and its clinical superiority and cost-effectiveness have been clearly demonstrated in patients with NBD. An analysis of real-life data in N = 227 NBD patients who have failed standard bowel care (SBC) and has found that Peristeen can reduce the stoma surgery rate by 64% in the first 2 years after treatment initiation and 35% over a lifetime. Specifically, the 2-year stoma surgery rate for Peristeen vs. standard bowel care is 2% vs. 6%, respectively. Furthermore, in a human clinical trial, N = 49; MS patients showed a decrease in hospitalizations of 41% per year when patients use Peristeen. Without Peristeen, the physical issues that arise result in an increase in healthcare utilization. For example, adults with NBD have been shown to be more than twice as likely to be admitted to the hospital due to fecal impaction and constipation in comparison to healthy individuals. If not managed properly, NBD can ultimately lead to stoma surgery or need for permanent residential care.

Despite the documented clinical success with Peristeen, it is marginally accessible due in large part to a misclassification as a large volume enema (LVE). Typically, LVE is an over-the-counter product that consists of a water bag or bladder, tubing with adjustable clamp to connect and start/stop the gravity-fed water flow to the rectal catheters/probe, and a hook or ability to hang the bag. As gravity is used to administer and adjust the flow of water into the rectum, the patient typically needs assistance and/or needs to lay on the floor near the toilet to administer. Peristeen has an adjustable/inflatable balloon catheter to allow for a complete seal in the rectum where LVEs do not, thereby allowing patients to sit on the toilet or commode during the process. The leg strap and ergonomic dial and pump also allow the patient to perform the procedure independently.

Treatments like LVE are noted to be difficult to retain fluid in patients as there is no secure way to seal the rectum, thus much of the fluid involuntarily flowing out during installation. In addition, published literature characterizing the quantity of fecal removal with LVE is lacking and is an uncommon use in practice, thus, there is no understanding of how well they fully empty the colon. In Spinal Cord Injury patients, bowel distension caused by LVEs has been reported to trigger autonomic dysreflexia. Thus, the purpose of this study will be to investigate and compare the effects of both a large-volume enema and Peristeen on emptying of the colon.