Irrigoscopy - what kind of procedure? How to do Irrigoscopy. Preparation for Irrigoscopy

Irrigoscopy is a rather popular procedure in modern medicine. With the help of such a diagnostic study can determine the mass of diseases and disorders in the work of the intestine.

That is why today many patients are interested in additional information about this procedure. What is the research? How to prepare for an irrigoscopy? What indications and contraindications does such a test have? What do the patients say about the procedure? Answers to these questions will be of interest to many.

Irrigoscopy is ... A brief description of the procedure

Irrigoscopy is one of the methods of radiological examination of the intestine, in which a special contrast agent is used. As a contrast, most commonly used is barium sulfate, which is injected directly through the rectum.

In fact, such a procedure has a lot of advantages - it is easy to conduct, gives relatively accurate results and is rarely associated with discomfort or any complications.

What can be seen during the study?

Irrigoscopy is a very informative procedure with the help of which it is possible to obtain important data on the state of the intestine. First of all, X-ray pictures provide very accurate data on the location, shape and diameter of the lumen of the large intestine. With the help of testing, the doctor can also assess the elasticity of the intestinal wall and the degree of its extensibility.

Irrigoscopy helps to obtain information about the work of the bauginia damper - an intestinal fold located at the junction of the ileum into a thick one. Normally, this structure lets the contents of the intestine only in one direction - by monitoring the movement of the contrast medium, one can check whether there are any irregularities in the operation of the shutter.

This procedure is also very important in diagnosing diseases such as diverticulosis, cicatricial narrowing of the intestine. It is also used for suspected tumors and fistulas. With the help of X-rays it is possible to test the work of various parts of the intestinal tract, as well as to examine the relief of the surface of the mucous membranes.

Indications for the procedure

In what cases is the patient assigned an irrigoscopy? The doctors' testimonies testify that this procedure has a very important diagnostic value. Indication for its conduct is a suspicion of the presence of certain diseases of the large intestine. In particular, the study recommends patients who have consulted a doctor with the following complaints:

• Pain in the large intestine and anal area;
• Chronic stool disorders, including prolonged diarrhea or constipation;
• The appearance of uncharacteristic mucous or purulent discharge from the intestine;
• The presence of bleeding in the rectum;
• As a prophylaxis, irrigated peeling occurs from time to time in people with suspected colon cancer;
• A similar examination is also indicated if a previously performed colonoscopy has given dubious, inaccurate results.

It is worth noting that in most cases, irrigoscopy is assigned in conjunction with other diagnostic tests.

Training Rules

Preparation for intestinal irrigation is very important, because the quality and results of the study depend on this. So what kind of activities does the procedure require? Of course, the doctor in charge will tell you more about this, but there are some general recommendations.

The large intestine must be freed from stool. That's why patients need to slightly change the diet 2-3 days before the irrigoscopy. In particular, from the menu it is necessary to exclude all products that cause abundant stool and bloating. Patients are advised to temporarily stop using bread, some cereals (oatmeal, millet, pearl barley), as well as fresh fruits, vegetables and greens. Dishes, by the way, it is better to cook for a couple.

The day before the procedure, you can eat light meals, but from dinner you better give up. Naturally, breakfast on the day of testing is also not recommended.

Preparation for the irrigation of the intestine requires some other activities. For example, the colon should be cleaned with enemas: one of them to be held the previous evening, and the second - in the morning of the procedure.

There are also more comfortable methods of cleansing the intestine. For example, laxatives are used for this purpose. On the eve of the study, the patient may be recommended to take medications such as Dufalac or Fortrans.

Irrigoscopy technique

Of course, many patients are interested in the question of how irrigoscopy is done and whether the procedure is painful. Immediately it is worth noting that such a study is absolutely painless.

To supply contrast to the intestine, as a rule, a special device is used. It is a jar with a ground lid, to which are connected two tubes. At the end of one of the tubes there is a rubber pear with which the air is supplied to the jar, thereby creating an overpressure. A disposable, sterile system for irrigoscopy is attached to another tube - it is through it that the contrast material enters the intestine. Such a device for irrigoscopy is called Bobrov's apparatus.

During the procedure, the patient lies on his side, with his hands behind his back and his legs bent in the hip joints. Through the tube into the intestine the contrast solution is slowly supplied. As the intestine is filled, the medical staff makes sighting and general radiographic shots.

Then follows the second stage of the procedure - double contrasting, in which the necessary amount of air is injected into the intestine while simultaneously taking a series of pictures. This technique makes it possible to spread the folds of the mucous membrane and carefully examine them.

After the procedure

It is worth noting that in the first 1-3 days after the procedure, constipation may appear. In addition, fecal masses can discolour or lighten - this is due to the introduction of barium into the intestine. All these phenomena pass by themselves, so you should not worry.

Are there any contraindications

Before the appointment of a similar procedure, the doctor should conduct a thorough examination and collect a complete history. After all, there are some contraindications in which there is no irrigoscopy. This is primarily a serious condition of the patient. For example, the study is not prescribed for people with severe tachycardia, severe heart failure and some other systemic diseases.

Contraindications also include pregnancy. Irrigoscopy is contraindicated in the presence of perforations in the wall of the intestine. Acute inflammatory processes in the intestine (for example, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis) are considered relative contraindications - the procedure can be performed, but extremely cautiously, and the decision on the appointment of the study is made by the attending physician.

If the patient can not be irrigated, the specialist can recommend other diagnostic testing.

Irrigoscopy and possible complications

To date, this procedure is considered one of the safest. Nevertheless, there are some complications with which irrigoscopy is involved. This is primarily the formation of barium granulomas or barium embolism. Complications can also include perforation of the intestinal wall. It is extremely rare during the procedure, the contrast substance flows into the abdominal cavity.

But do not be afraid of complications, since such violations in modern medicine are registered very rarely. If the procedure was performed correctly, the patient underwent a preliminary diagnosis and the doctor did not find any contraindications to it, then the probability of developing the above-mentioned violations is minimal.

Irrigoscopy of the intestine: patient feedback

Of course, in modern gastroenterology this procedure is used quite often, because it is relatively easy to conduct and gives good results. Irrigoscopy is recommended for many patients. Reviews about such a study are mostly positive.

First of all, people note the fact that the procedure lasts not too long - from 40 to 90 minutes, depending on the scale of the study. As for soreness, it is absent. It is impossible not to note a certain level of discomfort with which the intestinal irrigoscopy is involved. The patient's feedback, however, suggests that the inconvenience is more emotional than physical. Some patients note a sensation of bloating, and sometimes mild nausea.

The undoubted advantage is that immediately after the study the patient gets results with which it is possible to go directly to the attending physician.