Simple. Reliable. Intuitive.

As stated earlier, TAI is a very individual therapy method. For some individuals the method will work after a couple of irrigations, for others it may take 4-12 weeks to create a working bowel management routine.

What if I forgot the code to unlock my settings?

How often should I perform TAI?
At the start it is common to irrigate once every day for the first 10-14 days. Later on the frequency may possibly be reduced to once every other day or every third day. Your frequency should be decided in consultation with your healthcare professional.

What water quality should I use?
Only use clean tap water. If you do not have access to clean tap water, use bottled water.

How much water should I instill?
Your healthcare professional will advise you how much water to use. For adults it is common to start around 500ml.

What water flow rate should I use?
Your healthcare professional will advise you. The water should be instilled at a rate fast enough to provide stimulation to the bowel wall but not too fast as it can cause abdominal cramps, pain or strong reflex contractions.

What balloon size is recommended?
Your healthcare professional will advise you of the appropriate balloon size. It should be just big enough to hold the catheter in place and seal the anal opening to minimize leakage during irrigation.

What if I cannot get to the instillation mode when I press the  button?
Make sure that you have filled the water container with water, that the lid is closed and that you have pressed  long enough so that water runs through the catheter and the catheter balloon deflation symbol is shown at the bottom of the screen.

What if the balloon does not inflate when I press the button?
Make sure the Navina Smart control unit is on and that you are in the instillation mode. This is the only mode where the balloon can be inflated. Make sure the tubes are connected at the right place. Make sure the tubes are connected tightly so the air does not leak. Make sure the tubes are not blocked or kinked.

What if I cannot fill the catheter balloon more when I press the balloon inflate button?
You may have reached the maximum balloon size selected in your settings. If there is a “<” sign beside the balloon size on your display, it means you have deflated the balloon but not completely and then tried to inflate it again. For safety purposes only a limited amount of air can be filled in. Deflate the balloon completely and you will then be able to inflate it again up to your maximum setting.

Why cannot I inflate the balloon more than step 5?
The maximum size of balloon inflation was selected after consultation with healthcare professional experts, to meet the anatomical needs and prevent over inflation of the balloon and the risk of balloon burst.

Can the balloon burst and, if so, is it dangerous?
Yes, there is a risk of the balloon bursting and this is why the Navina Smart control unit has a maximum inflation size of the balloon already set. It is also possible to change the maximum balloon inflation size to a smaller size recommended by your healthcare professional. This is done simply by entering the setting mode and changing the maximum balloon inflation size setting. This minimizes both the risk of over inflation and of balloon bursting.

Can I stop inflation? 
You can stop the inflation of the balloon at any time by releasing the button.

Can I adjust the size of the balloon?
You can deflate the balloon by pressing .

Can I stop instillation?
You can stop the instillation of water at any time by releasing the button /.

What if the Navina Smart control unit does not start?
If the control unit does not start when you press the on/off button, it is probably because there is not enough power left to complete anal irrigation. Charge the control unit. The control unit cannot be used while being charged.

What if the Navina Smart control unit does not charge?
If the control unit does not seem to be charging, make sure the inductive charger is correctly placed in the charging support. Make sure the charger is connected to the main socket. Make sure the Navina Smart control unit is properly placed in the charging support.

How do I go to the next mode on my Navina Smart control unit?
Press any button under the display when you are in the welcome mode, to go to activation mode and press  to go to the instillation mode when you are finished with the activation mode.

What if no water is flowing when I press the water buttons?
Make sure the Navina Smart control unit is on and that you are in the activation or operation mode. Make sure there is water in the container. Make sure the lid of the water container is closed. Make sure the tubes are connected at the right places. Make sure the tubes are connected tightly so the air does not leak. Make sure the tubes are not blocked or kinked. 

What if the water flow is too low?
Please check the flow rate selected in your settings. Make sure the lid of the water container is completely closed. Make sure the tubes are connected at the right place. Make sure the tubes are connected tightly so the air does not leak. Make sure the tubes are not blocked or kinked. Make sure you are not impacted and that your rectum is emptied. You may want to try placing the water container higher. The pressure in the system might have reached the maximum and the safety valve may be opened. Deflate the catheter and try to empty the bowel. If you do not feel completely empty, make sure you are not constipated and that your rectum is empty and repeat the irrigation procedure.

What if the water instilled on the display and the scale on the water container do not indicate the same amount of water instilled?
The display and the scale on the water bag have an accuracy of +/- 50ml so due to rounding effect the two scales could show 100ml (0.1 l) difference. Note that the amount of water is shown in l (litres) on the display.

What if debris from the catheter flow back in the tube?
Do not turn off the Navina Smart control unit until you have disconnected the tubes from the control unit. If you do experience debris from the catheter flowing back in the tube, you can clean the tube by pumping water through it. New tubes can also be ordered separately if needed.

What if bleeding should occur?
A small amount of bleeding or smearing of blood on the catheter may occur and should not alarm you. More severe or sustained rectal bleeding with or without pain suggests a possible bowel perforation, which should be treated as a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.

What should I do if I feel pain?
If cramps, discomfort or pain occur while instilling the water, pause instillation for a few moments and continue more slowly once the discomfort has subsided, ensure that the water is warm enough, at body temperature. If pain is severe or persistent stop the irrigation immediately. It could be perforation of the bowel which should be treated as a medical emergency.

What if I feel sweating, palpitations or dizziness during irrigation?
If you have a spinal cord injury this may be a sign of autonomic dysreflexia. Instill the water slowly and limit the time on the toilet depending on tolerance. If symptoms are bothersome, ensure that you are not alone when irrigating until symptoms at each TAI are reduced or minimized. If you are at risk of autonomic dysreflexia, you should have medication easily to hand in your home. If autonomic dysreflexia occurs, stop the irrigation immediately. Further assessment and possibly other treatments are required before continuing with TAI.

What if there is leakage of water around the catheter?
Ensure that the catheter is properly located. Check water temperature. Increase balloon inflation up to your personal maximum setting. Instill water more slowly.

What if the catheter gets expelled before I have deflated the balloon?
Minimize inflation to avoid triggering reflexes. Instill the water more slowly. Contact your healthcare professional who will assess and treat any rectal impaction that may be causing the rectal expulsion.

What if my bowel does not empty?
Try to lean forward, cough or perform abdominal massage. If water and the bowel content still do not come out, you may be severely constipated and a manual clean-out of the rectum might be necessary. You might also be dehydrated, so remember to drink a lot of water and repeat the TAI procedure the day after. If you have been successfully using TAI for a while it might be that your colon is clear and this could be a first indication that the TAI frequency could be reduced.

What if I feel resistance when trying to remove the catheter/the balloon does not deflate completely?
If you feel any resistance when removing the catheter, try to press  again to make sure all air is removed from the balloon. If there is still resistance, make sure that the tube is free. If that does not help, disconnect the tube from the control unit, this should allow all the air to leave the balloon.

Can I reuse the catheters?
No, the rectal catheter is for single-use only. Dispose of it after use in the normal household waste. If reused, Wellspect HealthCare cannot guarantee the functionality nor the safety of the product. Reuse may lead to infection.

How should I store my Navina system?
After the components are cleaned and dried, you may store your Navina system in the Navina case and keep it out of direct sunlight. Also ensure that the tubes are not kinked and that the system is kept away from sharp objects. Keep away from children.

Can I wipe the Navina Smart control unit display with alcohol?
No, only use mild soap and water as the alcohol may negatively affect the display and reduce visibility of the information on the Navina Smart control unit.