Outline of Workshop (Total time = 90 minutes):
Speaker 1: Introduction (15 minutes):
• Importance and impact of NBD in SCI
• Limitations to current assessment tools available
Speaker 2: MENTOR (Monitoring Efficacy of Neurogenic bowel Treatment On Response) tool description (20 minutes)
• Development of and results of an international collaborative trial of the newly developed assessment tool
Speaker 3: Interactive case presentations using an audience response system (20 minutes)
Speaker 4: Advanced management techniques for NBD (20 minutes)

Questions and Answers (15 minutes)

No advanced set up will be needed.
Handouts including the MENTOR toolkit will be prepared and available for participants. No additional costs or set up will be required.

Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBD) is an important consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI) that has a significant impact on the quality of life. The lack of validated tools to monitor the efficacy of treatment makes it more difficult for clinicians and patients to know when their treatment is most appropriate. This can lead to a lack of attention to the problem(s) by the healthcare professional and sustained suffering by the patient.

The first section of the workshop will present key aspects in treatment of NBD for persons with SCI. The second will review the development and results of an international collaborative trial of the newly developed assessment tool, MENTOR, that was developed based on bowel symptoms and patients’ subjective perception of their bowel function. The level of concordance between the MENTOR tool and clinical decision by the international panel of experienced clinicians specializing in NBD will be described as well as the very high degree of acceptance and user-friendliness of the tool as graded by persons with NBD.

The next sections of this workshop will include an interactive discussion with the audience (using an audience response system), reviewing specific patient presentations using the MENTOR tool, as well as discussing treatment options. Finally, advanced techniques for management of NBD will be discussed.