An apparatus for providing continence to a gastrointestinal ostomy of a
patient, wherein the apparatus includes a lumen sealing device, a
chemical neuromuscular control agent, and a mechanism for controlled,
localized delivery of the neuromuscular control agent. The lumen sealing
device is positioned in contact with the mucosal wall of the intestine
and the neuromuscular control agent is delivered to the intestine via the
mechanism for controlled, localized delivery, such that the neuromuscular
control agent provides an inhibitory effect on peristalsis or smooth
muscle contraction and relaxation cycles in the intestine to thereby
arrest the advancement of the contents of the intestine.