What is an enema?
An enema is a process where a fluid is injected into the lower bowel by way of the rectum. The purpose of the enema is to help clean the colon and relieve constipation.
An enema is a process where a fluid is injected into the lower bowel by way of the rectum. The purpose of the enema is to help clean the colon and relieve constipation.
Many people suffer from constipation. Elderly people are five times more prone to constipation than young people due to their lack of mobility, side effects of medication, and a blunted urge to defecate. Many people choose to treat constipation with over-the-counter drugs, but sometimes constipation can be so severe that it results in a trip to the hospital.
The most common medical uses of enemas are bowel cleansing, X-ray preparation, and medication administration.
Different types of enemas work in different ways. In cleansing enemas, the rectum distends, which allows the enema to stimulate the colon and cause contractions that eliminate stool. Alternatively, a phosphate enema directly stimulates the muscles of the colon, allowing for the release of bowel movements.
Contrast enemas use a special enema solution (or air) that shows up well on X-rays, which can then take pictures of the large bowel or colon. This test shows health care providers if the patient has any abnormalities of the distal small intestines or colon.
There are two types of enemas used for X-rays:
Cleansing enemas are most commonly used to treat constipation. The process stimulates the colon to eliminate stool.
Cleansing enemas can be performed at home. Some popular at-home enema types are:
Health care providers do not recommend using homemade enemas. Always talk with your health care provider before performing an enema at home, and follow their instructions carefully.
Before attempting the process at home, it’s essential that you know how to use an enema. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to perform an enema:
If you’re trying to make yourself poop immediately, an enema is often a solid course of action. The most frequent enema solutions are for constipation or bowel cleansing before a medical procedure or examination (such as a colonoscopy).
Fleet enemas use forms of a naturally occurring substance called phosphorus that’s important to every cell in the body. Fleet enemas are used to treat constipation and clean bowels before X-rays, colon surgery, or endoscopy exams.
You might get an enema if you’re trying to clean the lower bowel, receive medications, or help clear out gas or stool.
Enemas can be incredibly useful but can result in serious side effects, such as metabolic derangement or perforation. Hypertonic sodium phosphate enemas can be particularly dangerous to elderly patients with chronic renal failure or patients who have been treated with ACE inhibitors. In these patients, phosphate enemas may cause severe phosphate nephropathy.
The side effects of cleansing enemas are rarely discussed, but the process can be life-threatening. The most frequent cause of perforation comes from the device tip. In some cases, the perforation is due to a weakness of the rectal wall, an obstruction, or the position of the person when the enema was performed.
You should never use more than one enema in 24 hours. If you don’t see results within an hour of performing an enema, call your health care provider. A fleet enema typically has a shorter turnaround time, and you should see results within 30 minutes.
Typically, enemas are safe, but there are rare cases where too many enemas can have life-threatening effects on the heart or kidneys.
Alert your health care provider immediately if you perform an enema and feel:
Enemas should not be used by patients with:
It can be helpful to understand how an enema works, in case there’s ever a time in your life when you or your family member needs one. Performing an enema at home can be safe if you understand what you’re doing. Always talk with your health care provider before you attempt any medical process at home.