Not everyone knows how to use a gas pipe. In this regard, we devote our article to this very issue.
general information
Before answering the question of how to use a gas outlet pipe, you should find out why it is needed at all. As you know, in a normal state , the human intestine contains from 200 to 900 ml of various gases. They are formed upon contact of the microflora of the digestive tract with food masses. During the day, such gases can be released along with feces or naturally.
It should be noted that sometimes some pathological conditions of the human body lead to excessive gas formation, or the so-called flatulence. In such cases, not only the volume of the gas mixture changes, but also its qualitative composition. As a result, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, mercaptan and other substances that have an extremely unpleasant odor and toxic properties begin to accumulate in the intestines. Gas formation is accompanied by a feeling of fullness of the abdomen, bloating, heartburn, belching, and also colicky pains that often subside after the exhaustion of the gases. As a result, the patient feels rumbling and bubbling.
It should be noted that such a condition is not harmless, because with severe flatulence, the work of the heart is destabilized, shortness of breath intensifies and rises in blood pressure are provoked. Experts recommend that patients use a vent tube. Most often, this medical attribute is used to alleviate the condition of young children than adults, because babies are unable to independently get rid of increased gas formation. Before you talk about how to put a vent pipe to a newborn, you should find out how this product looks.
Device Description
The vent pipe is a soft, thick-walled and polished rubber tube with a diameter of 3-5 millimeters and a length of 30-50 centimeters. The end of the product, which is inserted directly into the intestine, is usually rounded around the central opening. The other side of the device, on the contrary, is cut across. Such a tube can be inserted at different depths. As a rule, this depends on the age of the person and his individual physiological characteristics.
How and when is a vent pipe used? The instruction manual for this medical attribute is usually not contained in the package with the product. In this regard, we decided to tell in detail how it should be applied in practice.
How to choose the right one?
A children's vent pipe (and an adult one too) is sold in almost every pharmacy. It should be noted that there is a difference between these products. For example, a medical attribute designed specifically for infants is made only from non-toxic materials. The temperature of such devices should be close to the temperature of the human body, and its tip must be rounded. It is these qualities that provide a painless and safe insertion of a vent pipe into the anus.
There are several manufacturers of such attributes on the market today. But before purchasing a product, you should not think about the brand, but about such a major parameter as its diameter. It should be specially noted that it should be within 2.5-3 millimeters. This value corresponds to the 16th and 17th size of the device.
Preliminary processing
Before inserting a vent pipe into the anus of a baby or adult, it must undergo pre-treatment. To do this, put the product in an enamel container, pour with ordinary drinking water and boil over low heat for about 15 minutes. Such a procedure disinfects the device, which is extremely necessary if it is used for young children.
What to do to facilitate the introduction of the product?
Before using the vent pipe for its intended purpose, its rounded end should be lubricated with petroleum jelly or oily baby cream. Without the use of such funds, it is strictly forbidden to carry out such a procedure. If you neglect this advice, then you can easily injure the intestinal mucosa, which will subsequently lead to rather serious complications.
Site preparation
To use this device, be sure to wash your hands with soap before the procedure. Next, put the oilcloth on a hard surface, and lay a cotton diaper on top. If you use a children's rectal tube, then boiling it is necessary. Moreover, after heat treatment, the product must be completely cooled.
Position of the patient
In the event that the gas outlet is carried out in relation to a teenager or an adult, then it must be laid on the left side, and legs pressed tightly against the stomach. If such a procedure is necessary for a newborn child, then it should simply be laid on his back.
How to put a vent pipe to a newborn or adult?
Having liberally lubricated the rounded end of the product with petroleum jelly or boiled and cooled vegetable oil, it should be inserted into the anus with slow and cautious rotational movements . For adults, such a device is placed no deeper than 7-10 centimeters. Newborn babies - up to 3.5, and a child under 1 year old - no more than 5 centimeters.
In this position, the rectal tube should be in the anus for about five minutes. If necessary, it can be twisted a little clockwise or counterclockwise. In this case, the tube should always be held by hand throughout the procedure.
Result from using the product
A gas vent (the algorithm of actions for its use was presented above) is used specifically to save a person from unpleasant symptoms and the effects of flatulence. The result of such procedures should be a successful discharge of feces or gases. If this did not happen, then the device should not be entered deeper or held for a longer time. It must be carefully removed from the anus and washed thoroughly. If required, this procedure can be repeated, but not earlier than after 4-5 hours.
How to understand that the gases have departed?
Now you know how to use the vent pipe. But if this is the first time you have performed this procedure yourself, it is very difficult to determine if your patient has exhausted gases or not. If you are unsure of this, you can resort to the following trick. For this, the free end of the tube must be lowered into a basin of plain water. With the successful passage of gases in the liquid, corresponding bubbles will begin to appear.
Is this gas venting method safe?
Before using a vent pipe, you should definitely try all possible methods that would get rid of flatulence. If such methods do not help, then you can use this device. However, it is advisable to do this in relation to young children only in extreme cases, because such procedures are not only unpleasant, but also unsafe, especially if they are not carried out by a medical officer, but by an ordinary mother-housewife.
Possible complications and contraindications for use
If you do not understand how to put a vent pipe at home, then it is better not to carry out such a procedure. Remember that if administered incorrectly, the patient may experience the following complications:
- injury to the rectal mucosa with the risk of subsequent bleeding;
- intestinal perforation, which can subsequently lead to peritonitis or severe bleeding.
It should also be noted that this device is strictly forbidden to use if a child or an adult has revealed diseases of the rectum or bleeding.
Important to remember!
When using this product, several key points to remember.
- Self-placement of the tube can be quite a dangerous procedure for a newborn baby. It is best to contact an experienced specialist who has repeatedly introduced such devices for gas venting.
- It doesn’t matter if the procedure with the discharge of feces and gases was successful or not, in any case, the child should be washed.
- Reuse of the vent pipe is allowed only after 4-5 hours, and only after thorough processing of the product (boiling, lubrication with petroleum jelly, etc.).
- Use such a device for venting gases in a newborn baby should only be if it is absolutely necessary.
Reviews about the device
An objective opinion on a particular service or product can be made only after you use it or find out what other consumers are saying. As for the venting rectal tube, a rather large number of reviews go about it, which are completely different in nature. Someone argues that such a device relieves their babies of flatulence, and someone talks about the futility of this medical attribute. Of course, to make a conclusion, you should use this product yourself. Due to the fact that all people are different, it is not a fact that it will help you.
Prevention of gas and constipation
As mentioned above, the use of a pipe for gas exhaust should only be in extreme cases. Before such a procedure, it is better to try to solve the existing problem by other methods, namely:
- adhere to a regular and balanced diet;
- give the child a plentiful drink (only by the age of the baby);
- use folk remedies for flatulence, that is, drink various decoctions;
- use an alternative gas outlet device - enemas or microclysters;
- be sure to consult a doctor for advice.
Product price
A vent pipe should be present in every medicine cabinet. After all, you never know when such a simple device will come in handy. You can buy it at any pharmacy at a very reasonable price - about 40-60 Russian rubles.