2011 Volume 34 Issue 5 Pages 5_71-5_75
Several cases of rectal injury due to enema catheter insertion are reported annually. Such injuries may be related to the length of catheter insertion. Books on basic nursing techniques provide varying descriptions of catheter insertion. In this study, a picture of the lower digestive tract was used to estimate the distance between the anal verge and rectum in an adult lying in the left lateral recumbent position, the posture used during enema administration. Moreover, we assessed the safe length for catheter insertion.
Gender-based differences were not observed in the distance between the anal verge and rectum; therefore, we concluded that gender-based variations should not be considered. The distance between the anal verge and rectum tended to increase with age; the maximum and minimum values for this distance differed for each age group. Catheter insertion beyond 5.4 cm (sum of the anatomical length of the anal canal [2.5 cm] and the minimum measured distance [2.9 cm]) in the left lateral recumbent position can cause rectal injury. Therefore, we suggest that books on basic nursing techniques can assertively state 5.0 cm or less as the safe length for catheter insertion that does not harm the rectum.
