8th August 2024

Continence

Urinary incontinence affects half of patients admitted with an acute stroke, with a significant minority remaining incontinent one year post stroke. Functional urinary incontinence is related to physical limitations, aphasia and cognitive impairment. Short-term urinary catheterisation may be required for symptomatic retention while investigations are done to ascertain the cause. Faecal incontinence is less common and also often related to function, although faecal loading and infection must be ruled out.