post colonosocpy positioning

[L's in a jam]

I thought I'd share the results of our reserach study with all of you. As I had stated in a comment last 1/07, we could not find any literature to support placing pt's. on their left side after a colonoscopy. We conducted a study that has been completed as of 1/08. We shared our reserach findings in a poster at the national SGNA conf. last May in Salt Lake City. Our poster won 3rd place!! We were very excited!! Our poster is now displayed outside of our GI dep't. We are working on our article for publication.

Results: Significant differences using the analysis of variances were detected that indicate left side down is the optimal position to pass flatus and relieve pain and bloating. Pt's. that were placed on their left side passed air more quickly and were more comfortable sooner than the pt's. that were on their right side or back. The data did show that after 30 min. most pt's., regardless of which position they were in, passed the insufflated air and were comfortable.

Implications: Because this is the first known study of this topic, it needs to be replicated. Our tradition of placing pt's. on their left side post colonosocpy has been upheld. However, pt. preference of a different positoin will cause no harm to the pt.

Hopefully this will be concrete info. you can use in your GI dep'ts. This is an awesome forum to share info. like this.

[CrohnieToo]

Thanks for the information. And congratulations on that third placement! Keep up the good work.

[Jane Hartman]

Hi, I am interested in conducting research on this topic for our Endoscopy Department here at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, KY.

Please let me know if your research has been published, and other information, such as how many patients were used. Was there an exclusion of Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients? Were the patients selected significantly bloated? Our patients are usually only in post op for 30 minutes...how long were the subjects held in Post op? Did you try turning all bloated patients to Right side immediately in post op to compare?? Thanks for any information and data you could give me.

[CrohnieToo]

Somewhat off-topic ... nevertheless: many Crohn's disease patients suffer from bloating and resulting pain from the disease itself. Its been attested to many times in the various Crohn's disease support forums that laying on your chest w/knees folded under you w/your butt up in the air, then turning to your left side w/the right leg curled upwards and the left leg straight, then reversing to lay on the right side, left leg curled up, right leg extended often quickly releases gas and bloating starting quickly w/the butt in the air position. We might not be presenting our best "view" but relief is appreciated regardless.

[L's in a jam]

Jane Hartman R.N.

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your 5/09 request for more info. on our reserach study and article. We will be publishing our results in the SGNA magazine. We were hoping to get it in before the end of this year, but I'm not sure sure we'll be finsihed with it by then. I will contact you via your e-mail address after I have spoken with my partner. We will be able to e-mail you a copy of our study for you to look at, and that should answer all of your questions. Thanks for your interest!