Gastrointestinal examination is an important tool for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, while comprehensive and detailed care can significantly improve the safety and accuracy of examinations and reduce the discomfort of patients.
Pre-test care
Mental care and health education
Many patients are afraid and anxious about gastrointestinal examination, and health-care personnel should be proactive in communicating, detailing the examination process, purpose, care and possible discomfort, so that the patient is well prepared. To inform patients of the importance of gastrointestinal examination in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases, as well as of the safety of the examination under modern technological conditions, and to enhance their trust and cooperation.
Intestine preparation.
The intestinal cleaning directly affects the effects of the examination. Oral laxative cleaning of intestinal tracts, such as polyethylene diol electrolytic dispersion, is usually required prior to inspection. The caregiver should provide detailed guidance to the patient on the correct method, time and dosage of the drug, and ensure that the intestinal cleaning is complete. During drug use, patients are closely monitored for adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, encouraging more drinking water, appropriate activities, and promoting intestinal creeping and excretion. Further measures such as clean enema may be required for patients with inadequate intestinal preparation.
Catering
Before the examination, one or two days are required to adjust the patient ‘ s diet, mainly to light, digestible, semi-fluent or liquid foods, to avoid the consumption of high fibres, seed fruit, meat and non-indigestionable foods, and for a certain period of time before the examination, depending on the type of examination, for a total of 6 – 8 hours in the stomach mirror and 2 – 3 hours in the water; 8 – 12 hours in the intestinal mirror and 4 – 6 hours in the water so as to ensure gastrointestinal and intestinal emptiness and ease of observation.
Prepare for surgery.
Assisting patients in carrying out pre-operative examinations, such as blood protocol, coagulation function, electrocardiograms, etc., to assess the suitability of the patient ‘ s physical condition. Instructing patients to remove such items as teeth, glasses, etc., and to replace relaxed examination suits. For patients with pain-free gastrointestinal lenses, the risk of and care for anaesthesia are also informed in detail, and anaesthesia is assessed and prepared prior to the operation, such as the establishment of an vein.
Post-test care
After the examination, the vital signs of the patient are closely observed until they are stabilized. Patients and their families are informed of post-inspection care, such as the need for a fasting after the examination, a water ban for a certain period of time, the possibility of having a small amount of warm water after the gastrointestinal function has been restored, after a doctor ‘ s assessment, and a gradual transition to food, half-eating, etc. The examination should avoid intense physical activity and recommend bed rest for a period of time to facilitate physical recovery. Observe complications and care. In the case of slight abdominal pain and abdominal swelling, which may be caused by abating gas during the examination, it is generally self-reducing, which may guide the patient to appropriate activity or abdominal massage to facilitate gas discharge. In the event of serious complications such as severe abdominal pains and large amounts of constipated blood, the doctor should be immediately informed and promptly treated, possibly as an emergency, such as gastrointestinal perforation and haemorrhage, and an appropriate first aid response is required.
Catering
On the basis of the results of the examination and the doctor ‘ s recommendation, the patient ‘ s diet is reasonably arranged. If there is no special abnormality in the examination, drinking water can be tested for 1 – 2 hours after the examination of the stomach mirror, and if the intestines are unwell, the diet can be fed on the same day and the diet will gradually return to normal. If a medical examination detects a disease and conducts a biopsy or treatment, the dietary recovery period will be extended accordingly and will be subject to the doctor ‘ s special dietary guidance to avoid the consumption of irritating foods and to prevent the development of haemorrhage or effects.
The care before and after gastrointestinal examination runs throughout the medical process and, through careful and professional care interventions, can effectively improve the success and safety of examinations, facilitate the smooth recovery of patients and provide a good basis for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.
