The learning objectives for this talk are:

• Prevalence and impact of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD)
• How understanding of the brain-gut axis helps understand pathophysiology
• Structured basis to conservative therapy in NBD
• How to use transanal irrigation
• Future potential for neuromodulation and targeting the microbiota to target the brain-gut axis

This topic is relevant due to an increasing prevalence of neurological disease. The brain-gut axis is being increasingly studied, especially neuromodulation and microbiota. Therapies are being developed without fully understanding mechanism

Recommended Reading:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31700610
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29753647
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24420006

Anton Emmanuel says about the ICS that "it is important that bowel dysfunction is a part of the remit of the ICS, which should not be considered merely a bladder related organisation. Whilst there are national colorectal and gastroenterological groups, there is a need for an international institution to produce guidance and be a forum for discussion."

Anton Emmanuel's key new finding:
The complications of cancer therapy (especially pelvic cancers) include significant gastrointestinal symptoms which can be assessed and often treated.

To read Anton Emmanuel's full biography click here