By: Dianne Garde
When someone with an ileostomy encounters a blockage, it is important to know how this should be treated. The term "lavage" is used rather than irrigation.
In the ostomy realm the term irrigation is generally refers to someone with a colostomy who gives themselves an enema on a daily basis to clear the colon of stool. The amount of water used is probably between one and one and a half litres. I feel that trying to instill this amount of fluid into an obstructed ileostomy could be potentially dangerous as the pressure could cause a perforation.
The generally accepted method of treatment for ileostomy obstruction is to use saline (sodium chloride) to prevent dehydration and to utilize a bulb syringe with an open ended whistle tip, 24Fr or 26Fr, catheter.
The solution is sucked into the bulb syringe and gently instilled into the catheter and the contents sucked back into it again in an effort to break up a food bolus. This should be done a number of times until the saline comes back clear.
I would not recommend that ileostomates try this procedure unless they have the proper equipment and have been taught by an Enterostomal Therapist. This should not be attempted until an x-ray has been taken to determine that it is a food bolus and not a mechanical obstruction.
I would also recommend that if you feel you have an ileostomy blockage that you try to get to a major centre where there is qualified personnel familiar with the proper procedure to deal with the problem appropriately
Via Ostomy Resource Center, Ostomy Toronto [http://www.wwonline.com/~ostotor/resource/index.html]
About the Author: Dianne Garde is Certified Enterostomal Therapist. She can be reached at: [email protected]. |
