A Harris flush is a type of

enema An enema, also known as a clyster, is the rectal administration of a fluid by injection into the Large intestine, lower bowel via the anus.Cullingworth, ''A Manual of Nursing, Medical and Surgical'':155 The word ''enema'' can also refer to the ...

aimed to evacuate painful flatus from a patient who has undergone abdominal

surgery Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...

. It differs from a standard enema in that it is intended to alleviate flatus, while the purpose of standard enemas is to principally remove stool. A Harris Flush kit is required. A sterile tube is inserted into the

rectum The rectum (: rectums or recta) is the final straight portion of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals, and the gut in others. Before expulsion through the anus or cloaca, the rectum stores the feces temporarily. The adult ...

and sterile water is flushed upward into the colon and then aspirated through the same tube. The excess gas is removed via the aspirated water. The procedure relies on gravity to accomplish its goal with the nurse slowly raising, then lowering, the enema bag while it remains connected to the hose, while nozzle remains in the patient's rectum. The procedure is repeated several times.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris Flush Medical treatments