High, hot, and a helluvalot. Or not.

[Guest219794]

In my experience, constipated patients often have a poop bolus beyond the reach for the doc to do a digital disimpaction, and a soap suds enema is ordered. This is either after the Fleets failed, or instead of failing with the Fleets. Putting the tube in distal to the poop, results in limited retention time and rapid return of lightly tinted water. Putting it past the bolus almost always works.

As I was doing this recently, I realized I had no idea how far was too far, and I was just doing what I was taught. By a nurse who was doing what she was taught. And on, probably back to the Civil War.

My hospital is not great on policies. So, I looked around online, and found policies stating 2-4 inches. The only way 750 ml is going anywhere if placed 2-4 inches is if it can flow freely up the digestive tract. If that was the case, the PT probably wouldn't be in the ER in the first place.

So- Anybody giving enemas "High, hot, and a helluva lot" and have any source to validate this procedure?

[JKL33]

I have a fairly successful procedure tweaked over time that involves progress in increments, because I am not willing to attempt to force past (or through) much resistance at all.

Absolutely nothing to back it up.

I prefer warm M&M. And, as with NGT insertion, if you go at it with too much (or the wrong kind of) gusto, the patient just won't tolerate it.