Patient information leaflet Bowel washout prior to a / reversal of /

Clinical Sciences Building Stoma Care Team 0161 206 4204

© G20100103W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, All Rights Reserved 2020. Document for issue as handout. Unique Identifier: SURG46(20). Review date: November 2022. You have been asked to attend the hospital for a bowel washout.

What is a bowel washout? A bowel washout is a way of clearing your large bowel prior to a procedure such as a Oesophagus colonoscopy. The bowel washout has usually been requested by your consultant and is carried out by the stoma specialist. Your loop ileostomy is situated at the end of your small bowel before it joins the large bowel. You have 2 opening in your stoma. The food you eat enters your mouth, passes down into the oesophagus (food pipe), through into the stomach, into the small bowel passing out of your body through your stoma. This is known as the functioning end. You also have a non-functioning end to your stoma that leads into your large bowel and down to your . Small Bowel Large Bowel (ilieum) (colon) As the large bowel is recovering Anus Rectum and not in use, builds up and needs to be washed out.

© 20100103W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, All Rights Reserved 2020. Document for issue as handout. 1 Unique Identifier: SURG46(20). Review date: November 2022. What is mucus? Other reasons I may need Will the washout be The lining of the bowel a washout? painful? continuously produces a A build up of mucus in your A bowel washout is not a substance called mucus. This bowel may cause you to have painful procedure. acts a lubricant for the passage some discomfort in your You may experience some of faeces. In a normally stomach / . mild abdominal cramps and it functioning bowel, you would You may find that you have can sometimes make you feel not usually notice this as it is the sensation of needing to nauseous for a short time and mixed with the stool. go to the toilet from your occasionally you may vomit. However, when you have a bottom and you do so at If you do experience any pain, stoma, the mucus lies dormant regular intervals you must let your stoma nurse in the bowel and most of it is Alternatively, you may get the know immediately. not passed naturally. sensation of needing to go The stoma nurse may ask to to the toilet but are unable you to lie on the bed for a short So why do I need a to pass anything. You could time and give you some oxygen find that you feel you need to washout? until you feel better. pass something but cannot. A If the doctor wants to look washout could help with all inside your large bowel with of the above. a camera, the mucus can stop the doctor from getting a clear picture. In some cases the mucus can prevent the camera from being passed into the bowel at all. Therefore it is important that your large bowel is clear and the mucus has been washed away before your have your colonoscopy.

© 20100103W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, 2 All Rights Reserved 2020. Document for issue as handout. 3 Unique Identifier: SURG46(20). Review date: November 2022. What is involved in a How long does the Can I eat and drink before bowel washout? procedure take? my washout? The stoma nurse will begin by The stoma nurse will pass a A bowel washout can take from You can eat and drink as normal explaining the procedure to small into the non 1-2 hours, sometime slightly before a washout. you. You will be asked to put functioning end of your longer until your stoma nurse is on a hospital gown and remove stoma. The stoma nurse will happy your large bowel is clear. your underwear. You will then then slowly insert some saline You can go home immediately be asked to lie on the bed on through the catheter into your after your washout or as soon your left hand side with your bowel. as you feel comfortable. If you have any further questions regarding knees bent up to your chest if After a short time, you will you are able. your procedure, please begin to pass water and hard Is the washout always a The stoma nurse will pass a lumps of mucus into the toilet success? do not hesitate to small catheter (tube) into your through your bottom. contact us on: Although most of the time bottom and will slowly insert When the stoma nurse has the washout is successful, some saline (salt water) through finished, you may feel you need 0161 206 4204 occasionally there are times the catheter. This will help to to take some time to sit on the that a repeat washout is loosen any hard lumps of mucus toilet and let any remaining required or the washout in your rectum. mucus pass. doesn’t solve your problem. When you feel your rectum is When you feel that this has full you should sit on the toilet stopped, you may replace your and pass the water and possibly stoma bag and get dressed. What do I need to bring some hard lumps of mucus from This is the end of the bowel into hospital with me? your bottom. You may have washout and you may go home All you need to bring with you the urge to push and sometimes when you feel comfortable. this can be uncomfortable. is a spare stoma bag and the In the next day or two equipment you need to change You will then be asked to following the bowel washout, it. remove your stoma bag while you may continue to pass lumps sat on the toilet. of mucus from your bottom.

© 20100103W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, 4 All Rights Reserved 2020. Document for issue as handout. 5 Unique Identifier: SURG46(20). Review date: November 2022. © G20100103W. Design Services Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust All Rights Reserved 2020 This document MUST NOT be photocopied

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