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Continence aids in the management of urinary incontinence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2012

J Browning
Affiliation:
Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, UK
Z Zaheer
Affiliation:
Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, UK
A Orzechowska
Affiliation:
Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, UK
A Mistri*
Affiliation:
Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr AK Mistri, Senior Lecturer, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, PO Box 65, Leicester LE2 7LX. Email: [email protected]

Summary

Urinary incontinence is a common problem, more so in older people and those in residential or nursing homes. Guidelines promote a structure to the management of incontinence, recommending non-pharmacological measures (including continence aids) as first-line options. Anticholinergic medications are used widely for urge incontinence, and surgical measures employed in selective cases.

Whilst other treatments are being tried, or where incontinence is refractory to treatment (about 30% of cases), it is important to promote continence or contain incontinence with continence aids in order to minimize psychological complications. What can be a bewildering array of aids is available and choosing the right type of aid requires knowledge of these. Here, we suggest a classification of continence aids, describing individual characteristics and appropriate situations for use.

Type
Clinical geriatrics
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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