A scintigraphic analysis of colonic movement in patients with colostomy: Changes of colonic transit time after acquaintance with irrigation

Abstract

For the purpose of making a functional assessment of colostomy irrigation, eight patients were examined. Group A was composed of four patients whose experience of irrigation was less than one year. Group B was composed of four patients who had undergone irrigation for more than two years. The capacity of the remnant colon was determined by a barium enema. Next, 74MBq of milking technetium 99 diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (^99mTc-DTPA) was instilled with a predetermined amount of water (37°C). A dynamic scan was performed for 45 min. The mean evacuation time of Groups A and B were 6 min 56s±2 min 33s and 13 min 27s±10 min 50s, respectively. The mean half emptying time of Groups A and B were 142.5s±7.9s and 309.0s±181.9s. The results suggest that the remnant colon may be habituated with irrigation. Colostomy irrigation which uses a single instillation of a measured volume of tepid water is recommended.