Transanal irrigation: best practice in the community.

Chronic constipation, which is common and often difficult to treat, has numerous origins, including neurological and other conditions, and adverse reactions to drugs, especially opioids. Chronic functional constipation lacks a clear underlying cause. Increasing evidence suggests that transanal irrigation (TAI) aids faecal evacuation and is well tolerated in many people with bowel dysfunction who do not adequately respond to first-line treatments. Recent papers offer insights that help nurses and other healthcare professionals implement best practice in the community, including discussing any need for assistance before starting TAI, agreeing the most appropriate device with patients and optimising the irrigation protocol. Training, careful follow-up and ongoing supervision improve adherence and success. Further studies are needed, however, and patients who do not respond adequately or are unable to tolerate TAI should be referred to a specialist service.

Transanal irrigation.

Conor Hamilton examines the key components healthcare practitioners should consider when using transanal irrigation.

Changing practice to using pre-filled syringes for flushing IV cannulas.

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency classifies 'pre-filled syringes' for flushing Intravenous (IV) cannulas and IV access devices as 'borderline' devices and offers some advice on how control measures can help mitigate risks. The Medicines Act (1968) and Medical Device Regulations try to address the legal position of these devices and allow each employer to identify those groups of staff allowed to use them. In turn, this may help address anomalies around the need to prescribe and document their use. This article describes how one large university health board in Wales implemented a change in products and practice and explores the issues around adopting and using CE-marked pre-filled, sterile syringes of 0.9% sodium chloride in place of manually drawing up an IV flush (the CE mark indicates devices that conforms with European legal requirements). Whether the use of individual components or a single pre-filled device can lead to a streamlined and cost-effective way to manage the flushing of IV cannula and vascular access devices was explored. Additional risk factors were identified, and the legal status clarified in line with current guidelines and regulations. As 0.9% sodium chloride in ampoules and vials is classified as a prescription-only medicine, the administration needs control via formal prescription or a patient group direction. Adopting and using these pre-filled syringes as CE-marked medical devices requires careful consideration and sign-off from each employing authority, before implementing them for flushing IV cannulas and IV access devices.

Effects of prolonged flushing interval in totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs).

Totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD) lumen occlusion is a long-term complication of central venous catheters, associated with risks of infection, therapy interruptions and increased healthcare costs. The role of flushing and locking in maintaining TIVAD patency is paramount. Most flushing protocols are based on manufacturers' recommendations, which indicate that 4 weeks is the safest interval between two consecutive flushing procedures during periods when TIVADs are not in use. Conversely, results of several studies suggest that extended flushing intervals (FIs) do not increase the rate of obstructive or infective complications. The study aimed to describe the effects of prolonged FIs in a cohort of 317 patients with cancer. The authors found no significant difference in terms of TIVAD problems between long (>45 days) and short (≤45 days) FI groups, which raises questions over the validity of current practice.

A review of transanal irrigation in adults.

This article discusses transanal irrigation: what it is, the clinical conditions that might be helped by it and less invasive options that should be considered before starting irrigation. It looks at the delivery of this procedure, describes the different options available and compares and contrasts devices manufactured by five different companies. Contraindications are listed and side-effects discussed. Problems and possible solutions are considered. Transanal irrigation education for nurses and teaching patients is reviewed. Follow-up is discussed, including the reasons why some patients abandon irrigation. Quality of life can be improved for those who become successful users of transanal irrigation. When patients do continue to irrigate, even when this is not problem free, it can help them regain control over their bowel dysfunction by allowing them to evacuate their bowels at a time and a place that is convenient.

Evaluación de la calidad de la técnica de enfermería "vacuidad del intestino" en Cirugía Pediátrica / Quality assessment for the nursing technique gut irrigation in children surgery

Introducción: el personal de enfermería debe estar bien entrenado en la preparación del paciente que va a ser intervenido por cirugía en afecciones gastrointestinales o con fines investigativos, para lograr una excelente vacuidad del intestino. Objetivo: evaluar la calidad de la técnica de enfermería "vacuidad del intestino" en cirugía pediátrica. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo en el Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica del Hospital Provincial General Docente "Dr. Antonio Luaces Iraola" de Ciego de Ávila, en el período 2010-2013. El universo quedó constituido por 74 pacientes que requirieron limpieza del intestino. La calidad de la técnica fue evaluada de excelente, buena, regular y mala. La información se obtuvo de la historia clínica y procesada con la utilización de frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes. Resultados: el 67,56 por ciento de los niños tenía menos de seis años, el 71,62 por ciento eran del sexo masculino, el 32,43 por ciento de los pacientes fueron preparados en la limpieza del colon con fines diagnósticos y el 67,56 por ciento con fines quirúrgicos. Se evaluó de excelente el 100,00 por ciento de los procedimientos "gastroclisis para cierre de colostomía" realizados, y el 98,64 por ciento de los procedimientos "Irrigación total del intestino para otros procederes". Conclusiones: la técnica de enfermería "vacuidad del intestino" en cirugía pediátrica realizada con los procedimientos de gastroclisis y de irrigación total del intestino para otros procederes fue evaluada de calidad. La experiencia del personal de enfermería es notable, evidenciado en los excelentes resultados obtenidos(AU)

Introduction: The nursing staff should be well trained in preparing the patient to undergo surgery for surgery in gastrointestinal diseases, or research purposes for excellent bowel emptiness. Objective: To evaluate the quality of nursing technique "intestine emptiness" in pediatric surgery. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Pediatric Surgery Provincial General Teaching Hospital "Dr. Antonio Luaces Iraola "Ciego de Avila, in the period 2010-2013. The universe was composed of 74 patients who required bowel cleansing. The quality of the data was assessed as excellent, good, fair and poor. The information was obtained from the clinical history and processed using absolute frequencies and percentages. Results: 67,56 percent of children had less than six years, 71,62 percent were male, 32,43 percent of patients were prepared in cleansing the colon for diagnostic purposes and 67,56 percent for surgical purposes. It was evaluated excellent 100,00 percent of procedures "gastroclisis colostomy closure" made, and 98,64 percent of procedures "whole bowel irrigation for other procedures." Conclusions: nursing technique "intestine emptiness" pediatric surgical procedures performed with gastroclisis and whole bowel irrigation for other procedures was assessed quality. The experience of nursing staff is remarkable, as evidenced by the excellent results obtained(AU)

Innovative technology for colostomy irrigation: assessing the impact on patients.

AIM: The main purpose of the trial was to evaluate the opinions expressed by a sample of subjects with permanent colostomy, as a result of the use of a new device designed for the execution of transtomal intestinal irrigation; their feedback was analyzed in relation to the concept of Quality of Life. METHODS: The device was tested on a sample of 14 colostomized patients (10 men and 4 women, aged between 42 and 77 years) who were used to perform intestinal irrigation procedures independently and routinely, with standard technique. After testing the new device, the patients included in the study were asked to fill out a questionnaire built ad hoc for their situation. RESULTS: The analysis of the data collected led to the following conclusions: 93% of the patients described the new irrigation method as simpler than the standard procedure; the majority of the patients assessed bowel emptying as good; 64% of patients reported excellent comfort experienced during the procedure; the presence of a regulator to adjust the instillation speed of water into the intestinal lumen was considered useful to control the flow of the incoming fluid CONCLUSION: The use of the device guaranteed: psychological tranquility, minimum manual intervention, full achievement of the expected results and decrease in the issues normally encountered with the standard irrigation method. The practical features of the new device ensure easy and straightforward carrying out of the procedure; this ease of use affects the stomized patient's everyday life by reducing the time of procedure completion, thus positively influencing the perception of the patients' Quality of Life.

Colostomy Irrigation: Issues Most Important to Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe issues that WOC nurses find most important related to colostomy irrigation (CI). DESIGN: This is an additional analysis of a study focusing on qualitative responses to a survey querying WOC nurses about CI practices. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The target population was members of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. Of the 985 nurses who responded to the survey, 338 (34.3%) answered the optional open-ended question asking for additional comments. METHODS: A 1-time online survey was conducted. In addition to demographic, educational information, and forced-choice questions about CI, an open-ended question asked for any additional comments about their experience with irrigation and WOC practice. Content analysis was used to identify common themes identified by WOC nurses. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-eight out of 985 WOC nurses (34.3%) answered the optional open-ended question asking for additional comments; analysis for this study is based on these responses. WOC nurses who responded to the open-ended question had similar characteristics to those who responded to the entire survey but were significantly more experienced (15.1 vs 11.0 years; P < .001). Multiple themes were identified that were related to forced-choice questions in the survey, such as equipment, lack of teaching time, and increased control, while several new themes emerged, including age-related recommendations, economic/ecologic benefits, cultural implications, and misconceptions of CI. CONCLUSION: Many WOC nurses feel that CI is a valued modality of ostomy care and should be reestablished, although dissenting opinions were expressed. Additional research to increase the evidence base for this procedure is needed. New opportunities to educate WOC nurses and other healthcare professionals and teach eligible patients irrigation techniques are recommended.

A national study comparing the tolerability and effectiveness of colon-cleansing preparations.

The aim of this multisite study (N = 412) was to identify which colon-cleansing preparations used before colonoscopy work best with specific patient populations. A comparative, descriptive approach was used to (1) describe bowel-cleansing preparations being used across the United States, (2) compare their cleansing effectiveness and tolerability, and (3) compare their effectiveness in patients with various health characteristics. A descriptive demographic data form adapted from the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Minimum Data Set was used to collect baseline information, identify preprocedure instructions, and describe compliance with preparations. Subjects completed an 11-item subject experience with the bowel-cleansing form before their colonoscopy. A colon cleanliness scale was completed during the colonoscopy to evaluate the effectiveness of the preparation. The preparations revealed a "good" to "excellent" rating and there was no statistical difference in the cleansing effectiveness of the preparations. Subjects experienced a variety of discomforts. Future studies that involve the pooling of data from multiple sites in different geographical areas may provide more precise criteria for the selection of colon-cleansing preparation for specific patients and increase the cultural diversity of the sample.

Inclusion of a spasmolytic in bowel cleansing: a prospective randomized study.

The quality of colon cleansing and the tolerance of patients to the procedure are two major determinants of the quality of a colonoscopy. Many bowel-cleansing regimens are known, but there is no ideal regimen. Alverine citrate (Relaxyl, Spasmonal) is a spasmolytic agent that has been shown to affect responses of mechanoreceptors of the intestine to both mechanical and chemical stimuli. Patients who underwent colonoscopies at four centers were randomly assigned two different bowel-cleansing procedures. The bowel-cleansing methods were oral sodium phosphate (NaP) (Group I) and oral NaP plus alverine citrate (Group II). Patients were randomized into one of these regimens. The quality of colon cleansing was assessed by an endoscopist with an empirical, clinically meaningful 3-point scale. Both groups were similar with respect to age, gender, and pre- and postcolonoscopic diagnosis. In Group I, 76 patients (47 women and 29 men; aged 39.53 ± 7.87 years) and in Group II, 71 patients (41 women and 30 men; aged 39.78 ± 8.27 years) were included in the study. In Groups I and II, 37 (48.7%) and 41 (57.7%) patients had perfect bowel cleansing, respectively. The overall colon cleansing in the group with NaP plus alverine citrate was comparable with that in the NaP group. The tolerability of patients to the colonoscopy in the two groups was also similar. Based on the present data, adding oral alverine citrate to NaP does not increase either the quality of bowel cleansing or the tolerance of patients to the procedure.

Diabetic colon preparation comparison study.

The purpose of the present study was to establish an optimal colon preparation for persons with diabetes who are undergoing colonoscopies. Specifically, the aim was to compare the difference between an experimental and standard preparation. Adequacy of bowel preparation is critical for good bowel visualization. Compared with nondiabetic patients, persons with diabetes have slower gastric emptying, colonic transit, and colon evacuation. Inadequate preparations may lead to suboptimal colonoscopy resulting in overlooked pathology, repeated examinations with associated risks, and organizational inefficiencies. Using a single-blind experimental design, 198 persons with diabetes who were scheduled to receive colonoscopies were randomly assigned to either the experimental (diabetic colon preparation) or the control (standard colon preparation) group. Patients in the diabetic colon preparation group had 70% good colon preparations compared with 54% in the standard group, and this finding was significant (χ = 5.14, p = 0.02). Results indicate that diabetic patients receiving 10 ounces of magnesium citrate 2 days prior to their colonoscopies followed by 10 ounces of magnesium citrate and 4-L polyethylene glycol the day prior to the procedure had cleaner colons than those receiving standard preparation of 10 ounces of magnesium citrate and 4-L polyethylene glycol the day prior to procedure. This colon preparation is safe, feasible, well-tolerated, and effective.