Enemas in the ER

[Jaloc]

I just have to ask how many ER's still do enemas in the ER for constipation? We are a small hospital but we have one doctor who orders KUB's (Abd series) on every patient with a tummy ache and always orders enemas till clear.. If theres a shadow on the xray then he or she is constipated. This really ties up a room for a while. Just curious.

[JRD2002]

I work med/surg and I just love it when a laxative like mag citrate or lactulose is given in ER and during transfer the desired effect is achieved at the worst possible time...

[gardengal1, ASN, RN]

We send tap water or soap suds enemas to the medical floor because of the amount of time involved and it ties up a bed and one staff member for hours (usually). We do give an occasional fleets enema in the ER but mostly, a bottle of mag citrate and out the door. It is our practice NOT to do enemas in the ER setting unless traffic is extremely slow at the time. And, we all hate doing these because most of the people can't even get themselves up off the bed and onto the commode or into a bathroom 10 feet away.

[Larry77, RN]

I bet your techs just love coming to work...

I don't think they think about it...doesn't happen that often...thankfully. They think more about who the other techs are that they are working with...we have a few that don't hold their weight...ugh.

[JBudd, MSN]

Beats the digital disimpaction of canteloped sized packages.

[malone2192]

We do milk and molasses enemas...works 99.9% of the time. The "brown cow" is also quite popular with our MDs...prune juice with MOM.

[SpaceCoastRN]

I thankfully have not done an enema in the ED. I just wish I would never see another bottle of kayexalate.

[LeesieBug]

Very rarely....In three years I have done one once (thank God...I hate them). Have often sent a fleets home with patients on dc, though.

[LeesieBug]

I thankfully have not done an enema in the ED. I just wish I would never see another bottle of kayexalate.

:chuckleIndeed, I find something inherently wrong with something that is intended for "oral or rectal" use.....gives me the heebie- jeebies.

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

we onky do microlax or fleet enena in the hospital setting never heard of any other.