Irrigator

From NursingWiki

In health care, an irrigator is a rigid recipient or can or bucket for fluid to be used for enema or vaginal douching. Irrigators tend to be used in Europe, whereas in the USA and in other countries, bags made of flexible rubber, called enema bags, are more commonly in use for enema and douching. The irrigator has a short drain tube near its lowest point and a device for suspension near its top. It may or may not have a pitcher handle for easier use. A length of tubing, commonly about 4 feet or 125 cm long and made of rubber, latex, or silicon, is attached to the drain tube. A clamp or spigot at the distal end of the tubing serves to attach a nozzle or a flexible colon tube to be inserted vaginally or rectally during use. Irrigators are made of enameled metal, or stainless steel, or translucent plastic, commonly in sizes of 1 or 2 liter. Many of them have an inscribed gradation recording the fluid level.

For use as an enema device, the filled irrigator is held or suspended 30 to 50 cm above the patient's anus. The standard length of tubing apparently has been chosen for convenience during assisted as well as self-administered enemas. After the air has been expelled from the tubing, after insertion of the fluid-filled colon tube, and after the spigot or clamp has been opened, the fluid drains by gravity into the patient. The rate or fluid pressure of draining is physiologically significant. It depends largely on the height of suspension and on the diameter of the narrowest point at the drain tube and the spigot. By lowering or raising the irrigator during the enema, the rate can be adjusted to a convenient 1 to 2 minutes per liter, depending on the convenience of the patient.

see also

enema