What is Irrigation?
Irrigation is a regular process of washing and
clearing the stool from the colon with water. It is an alternative name or
method of enema for clearing out the feces from the large intestine or colon.
Some colostomy patients choose the irrigation process of washing the solid
waste from the colon to regulate the functions of opening or stoma in the
abdominal wall. Due to this method, a colostomy person can predict the movement
of bowel and able to use small ostomy bags. The smaller pouches may include
stoma caps, place in between irrigations. Moreover, the irrigation method is
not suitable for every colostomy patient. Well, not every ostomy person feels
comfortable with the irrigation process. Therefore, there are a few key points
for colostomy persons to initiate this process.
Irrigation for Descending Colostomy and Sigmoid
Colostomy
Irrigation is a method to clear out the solid
stool from the colon. Therefore, this is not appropriate for every ostomy
patient. Urostomy and ileostomy persons cannot adopt the process of irrigation
to clean the waste container. Well, the patients of descending colostomy and
sigmoid colostomy can use this technique to wash out the feces. Moreover,
patients with transverse colostomy and ileal conduit cannot irrigate the
discharge with this method.
Many ostomy patients do no know about the type of
stoma they have. Doctors clear this in the pre-operative session, but many
patients skip this meeting because they think it is useless and futile.
Therefore, before adopting the irrigation method to wash the stool or waste
content, consult your surgeon and ask about the kins of ostomy you have.
Moreover, in a few cases, your doctor does not suggest your irrigation method
even you have sigmoid or descending colostomies; thus, ask your Enterostomal
Therapy Nurse (ET) before adopting the irrigation method. Furthermore, the
ostomy patients who have a continent diversion or Kock pouch, cannot use the
irrigation method for washing the solid stool.
Is Irrigation Appropriate for Every Colostomy
Patient?
As I mentioned above, the descending and sigmoid
colostomy can use the method of irrigation; however, there are a few more
reasons to adopt this process. Well, this is not an appropriate technique for
everyone even with sigmoid or descending colostomies. If a colostomy person has
undergone or will go through the chemotherapy or radiation treatment for the
abdomen or pelvis, then this is not an adequate method for you to clear out the
stool.
Due to the radiation and Chemotherapies, the
functions of the stoma may get disturbed or alter for a few months or
permanently' therefore, you should not adopt irrigation for washing the colon.
This would be problematic for colostomy persons. Moreover, for parastomal
hernia patients, it is an inappropriate technique. If a colostomy patient has a
hernia and the lump is reducing continuously, still it is not safe for them to
use the irrigation method. It can lead to further complications of the bowel.
Apart from these diseases, stoma prolapses can create problems for ostomy
patients. For diarrhea patients, irrigation would be a risky solution. Thus,
they should also not try this method to wash out the colon and clear the feces.
Who can use the Method of Irrigation?
Irrigation is an appropriate method for a few
colostomy patients and that are sigmoid and descending colostomy. The patients
whose stomach form a semi-thick or thick feces cam adopt the method of
irrigation to wash the stool and colon. Moreover, the regulation of bowel is
necessary for the formed stool. Therefore, you should eat five to six meals per
day, so that your digestive system gets active and to regulate the bowel. Do
exercise, perform small physical activities, take more fluids to an active
bowel, and proper functioning.
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