Enema Administration PDF

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ENEMA ADMINISTRATION An enema administration is a technique used to stimulate stool evacuation. It is a liquid treatment most commonly used to relieve severe constipation. The process helps push waste out of the rectum when you cannot do so on your own. Other types of enemas are administered to clean out the colon and better detect colon cancer and polyps. If you have concerns or worsening symptoms after an enema, ask a doctor right away. What is an enema administration used for? Constipation is a common gastrointestinal condition. It occurs when the colon is unable to remove waste through the rectum. People with this condition have three or fewer bowel movements over a seven-day period. Mild constipation often occurs when you don’t eat enough fibre or drink enough water on a regular basis. Daily exercise also helps to prevent constipation. Enemas may also be used before medical examinations of the colon. Your doctor may order an enema prior to an X-ray of the colon to detect polyps so that they can get a clearer picture. This procedure may also be done prior to a colonoscopy.

Types of enemas  There are two main types of enemas — cleansing and retention.

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Cleansing enemas

Cleansing enemas are water-based and meant to be held in the rectum for a short time to flush your colon. Once injected, they’re retained for a few minutes until your body rids itself of the fluid, along with loose matter and impacted stool in your bowel. Some of the most common cleansing enemas include

Water or saline. The least irritating of all options, water or saline — salt water that mimics your body’s sodium concentration — are used primarily for their ability to expand the colon and mechanically promote defecation. 

Epsom salt. This is similar to a water or saline enema, but magnesium-rich Epsom salt is said to be more effective at relaxing bowel muscles and relieving constipation.

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Sodium phosphate. This is a common over-the-counter enema that works by irritating your rectum, causing it to expand and release waste.

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Lemon juice. Lemon juice mixed with warm, filtered water is said to balance the pH of your body while cleansing your colon.

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Apple cider vinegar. Advocates say that mixing apple cider vinegar with warm, filtered water can quickly clear the bowel and may have other antiviral healing effects on your digestive system.

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Soap suds. Adding castile soap, or another mild soap with minimal additives, to water mildly irritates the bowel, which encourages the rapid excretion of stool.

II.

Retention enemas

Retention enemas are designed to be held in your bowel for an extended period — usually a minimum of 15 minutes — before being released. Retention enemas may be water- or oil-based, which softens the stool and makes it easier for your body to expel. Some of the most common retention enemas include Coffee. Coffee enemas are a mixture of brewed, caffeinated coffee and water thought to promote bile removal from the colon. They were popularized by Max Gerson, a physician who used them to help treat people with cancer. 

Mineral oil. This type of enema works primarily by lubricating waste inside of your colon, sealing it with water, and promoting its removal.

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Probiotic. Mixing probiotics with water may cleanse your bowel while helping colonize your good gut bacteria. Lactobacillus reuteri enemas have been shown to reduce inflammation in children with ulcerative colitis.

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Herbal. Some people use herbs like garlic, catnip tea, or red raspberry leaf mixed with water to make herbal enemas with purported nutritional, infection-fighting, and anti-inflammatory benefits.

PREPARING FOR AN ENEMA: You may be asked to fast or follow special dietary instructions in the days prior to having an enema. Instructions may vary, depending on your doctor and your personal health needs. If you plan to administer an enema at home, make sure that all of the equipment you are using has been sterilized and that you have a lubricant on hand. Pay careful attention to the way that you prepare the enema solution. You may have to mix it yourself with medicinal components. To lessen the pressure felt in your colon, empty your bladder before you begin the enema. You may also want to place a towel or cloth down in the area between your bathtub and your toilet, in case fluid leaks out of your bowels when you get up to empty your colon. It’s important to measure and mark your enema tube the first time you use it so that you do not insert the tube more than 4 inches into your rectum.

HOW AN ENEMA IS ADMINISTERED?  At a medical office If you are unfamiliar with enemas, you should consider having a medical professional administer one for you. They can also offer instructions for home kits that are available over the counter at pharmacies. Check with your doctor before use. Some types of enemas are exclusively administered at medical offices. A barium enema, for example, uses a liquid compound that highlights certain areas of the gastrointestinal tract. This increases the amount of the tract that your doctor can see during an exam. Barium enemas are not used to treat constipation.

 At home Enemas can be administered in the comfort of your own home. This way can be less expensive, but you should ask your doctor for detailed instructions beforehand. Due to the delicate nature of the procedure, a loved one should help. Enemas utilize a solution of salt water that is placed into a bag on one side of the tube. The other portion is lubed and placed directly into the rectum. In order for the solution to reach the colon properly, hug your knees to your chest while lying on your stomach or on your side. Here are the standard instructions: 1. Fill the enema bag with your desired solution, using warm water. Make sure the clamp is shut. Hold the bag with the hose end down and open the clamp for a moment or so to get rid of any air bubbles, which you do not want to introduce into the colon. 2. Hang the bag alongside the bathtub so that you can access it while lying on your left side. 3. Lubricate the end of the tube to make insertion more comfortable before inserting the tube, no more than 4 inches into your rectum. Bear down and push the anus out as you insert the tube to make it more comfortable. Lie on your left side and pull your knees to your chest. 4. Wait for the fluid to enter your rectum, breathing deeply and watching the bag until it is empty. 5. Remove the nozzle from your rectum slowly. 6. You will probably feel the urge to use the bathroom (“evacuate”) immediately. If you are doing a cleansing enema, carefully stand up and move to the toilet. If you goal is retention, follow the instructions of your desired enema.

Enema administration results Once all of the solution is emptied into the colon, a bowel movement is expected within the hour. If you fail to expel any waste, call your doctor. You may be ordered to perform the procedure at a later time. Successful administrations result in the expulsion of waste from the rectum.

Potential risks of enema administration

When conducted properly following a doctor’s instructions, enema administrations are generally considered safe. 

A barium enema can cause waste to take on a white colour for a few days afterwards. This is the normal effect of barium and should clear up on its own. If you can’t produce waste, talk to your doctor about ways to loosen your stool.

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Forcing an enema into the rectum can cause irritation and damage to surrounding tissue. Never force the tube into the rectum. If problems persist, try administration at a later time or call your doctor.

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Blood that is present in the stool after the enema may mean there is rectal damage or an underlying medical problem. Consult with a physician immediately regarding any rectal bleeding.

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Your risks for enema-related complications are greater if you administer the tubes multiple times a day. The best course of action is to use the enema once a day, and around the same time every day, as directed by a doctor. This not only reduces side effects but will also help to train your body to release waste regularly. If constipation continues for more than a few days, call your physician.

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In extremely rare cases, the incorrect administration of an enema can cause an embolism (or blockage) to form. Pulmonary embolisms, which occur in the lungs, can be fatal. In other rare cases, an incorrectly administered barium enema can result in perforation of the rectum.

AFTER AN ENEMA: Some people find that they have several additional bowel movements in the hours after an enema. For this reason, many plans to stay home for the rest of the day after an enema is administered. But for the most part, you may carry on with your regular routine after the enema process is complete....