Enemas
Enemas: Meeting Elimination Needs
Administering an Enema
Types of Enemas
- Cleansing
- Large volume: 500-1000 ml of fluid is instilled into the colon
- Small volume: 50-200 ml of fluid is used, prepackaged disposible enema
- Oil retention enema: small volume enema that softens hard stool
- Medicated enemas
- Return Flow enema: used to remove flatus and stimulate peristalsis, most frequently after surgery
Solutions used
- tap water: a hypotonic solution that may be drawn into the body cells and cause water toxicity, electrolyte imbalance, and/or circulatory overload.
- normal saline: isotonic solution that is considered a safe enema solution
- hypertonic solutions: often prepackaged small-volume enemas that use a hypertonic solution to draw fluid from the body to moisten the stool
- soap solutions: are very irritating to the colon so are rarely ordered
- oil: moistens hardened stool
- carminative solutions: provides relief from gas (such as MGW solution: 30 ml magnesium, 60 ml of glycerin, & 90 ml water)
Nursing Considerations when administering an enema
- Children and the elderly are more susceptible to fluid and electrolyte imbalances, so should only have small volume enemas. Children and infants should only have normal saline enemas.
- Enemas are contraindicated in patients with bowel obstruction, inflammation or infection of the abdomen, or if the patient has had recent rectal surgery.
- Many patients have fears and concerns regarding enemas and their administration - describe the procedure and answer all the patient's questions regarding the procedure.
Administering a return flow enema
- The recommended position for the patient during enema administration is lying in the left lateral position with their right leg flexed as much as possible.
- Use a solution at a temperature of 105o to 110oF in adults and 100oF in children. Cool solutions will increase the incidence of cramping.
- Alternately rise the enema container 12-18 inches above the rectum for an adult and administer approximately 200 ml of fluid, then lower the container 12-18 inches below the patient's rectum until no further flatus is seen.
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