What Is A Barium Enema?The term barium enema refers to the insertion of an enema tube into the rectum. This is usually performed to diagnose what is wrong in the colon of the patient. Barium enemas may be necessary for patients when prolonged colon examination is required, or when an extended diagnosis is anticipated. It may also be placed surgically to maintain the structure of the colon--when threatened by cancer, infection, or trauma. Placement of a barium enema is mainly used during the acute phase of an illness of the colon and later removed. Barium enema prevents postoperative constipation and contamination of the colorectal surgical area by feces. It is helpful to determine rectal cancer. After surgery involving the colon, peristalsis often does not return for 24 to 48 hours. Barium enemas are no longer routine, but they may be ordered if bowel surgery is planned. Patients have to undergo barium enema since the colorectal surgical procedure will be an excision of bowel tumor. While the existing literature points to the deep impact that barium enema can have on the colon cancer patient’s lives, there is nonetheless a scarcity of research on the particular issues of infection after the barium enema procedure. Although the barium enema has become a procedure that is commonly performed in patients critically ill with colon ailments, the morbidity of the different diagnostic techniques currently used in ICUs is not well-known. For this reason the medical and mental health communities are unaware of the best way to assist patients through the implementation of barium enema. Infection control policies in barium enema practice should comply with the following guidelines: (1) Infection control precautions should apply to all patients, whether deemed infectious or not. (2) All equipment used should be dismantled and thoroughly washed in an appropriate neutral detergent immediately after use to remove respiratory secretions and to reduce contamination; (3)"Clean" and "infected" areas should be strictly maintained in the barium enema suite, so that contaminated instruments are separated from sterile and clean equipment. (4) Medical personnel in contact with each patient should wear simple barrier clothing, masks, gloves, and goggles routinely. The management of the implementation of barium enema is important. It is about identifying, measuring and controlling the processes of barium enema that uplifts quality or performance in the delivery of patient care. Every day, nurses help patients with colon diseases through education, empowerment and expertise to avoid the recognized complications associated with barium enema. They give practical advice and support to people who underwent barium enema to manage risky situations such as an episode of colon infections, encouraging the patient and the family to learn from the event and employ tactics to prevent recurrence. This is a proactive risk management strategy that involves the recognition and identification of things that can go wrong as part of a systematic approach to patient care. Patients are empowered to respond appropriately in a risky situation. Nurses are instrumental in helping patients undergoing barium enema cope through symptom management, emotional support, and patient education. By increasing their awareness of barium enema and the challenging nature of its diagnostic capabilities, nurses can help identify patients needing care. |