An enema is a liquid medicine that is introduced into the body through the anus.
The first step that must be taken to understand the meaning of the term enema is to determine its etymological origin. When we do so we discover that it is a word that comes from Greek, since it is made up of three Greek elements: the prefix en- , the verb hienai , which means to throw, and the suffix -ma , which is equivalent to the result of a action.
Enema is a liquid medicine that is introduced into the body through the anus and is used to clean and discharge the belly . The term is also used to name the utensil with which the operation is performed and the action itself of introducing the liquid.
For example: "Yesterday they gave grandma an enema because she was constipated" , "The doctor who suggested that I use an enema to clean the area" , "If I continue like this, I'm going to have to resort to an enema even though the idea isn't I like it."
Types of enemas
It is possible to distinguish between two types of enemas: evacuative enemas and retention enemas . Evacuative enemas are used as a treatment for constipation, fecalomas or fecal retention in general. The liquid supplied is usually fast-acting, generating a response in less than twenty minutes.
The retention enema , on the other hand, is designed so that the liquid introduced into the body is retained for a minimum of thirty minutes. This substance can be a medication or a liquid that allows images of the lower intestinal tract to be viewed with X-rays to make a diagnosis. In the latter case, it is called an opaque enema .
Enemas help cleanse and discharge the belly.
Some considerations
In order to carry out this opaque enema, it is necessary to take into account a series of very important considerations:
• It will have as its object what the large intestine is, from the rectum to the colon.
• This is an action that has to be carried out in the hospital or any other relevant medical center.
• In order for it to be performed, it is essential that the patient's colon be completely empty. Hence, this individual must empty himself well with laxatives or enemas as well as a few days of very exhaustive liquid feeding beforehand. Specifically, in this diet everything from coffee to water, including fruit juices, tea, broth and gelatin, take special prominence.
• A probe is implanted in the rectum and through it what would be barium sulfate is introduced into the person's body, a contrast element that allows clearer images of certain parts of the body to be obtained.
• Typically, an opaque enema is performed with the clear purpose of detecting colon cancer, discovering the causes of a person's constipation, or keeping other similar pathologies under control.
A third type of enema is the clismaphilic enema , which has no connection with medicine , but is used as part of a sexual practice.
It should be noted that there are several contraindications to the use of enemas. People with peritonitis, appendicitis, colitis, intestinal inflammation, or abdominal trauma should not use these treatments.