Overview

If you have been given an appointment to have prostate brachytherapy to treat your cancer, you'll need to have an enema to prepare for it. This information explains how to use the phosphate enema you have been given to prepare for your surgery.

You'll need to have the enema at least 2 hours before you leave to come to the hospital for your surgery. If you would like to have this preparation at the hospital instead, please contact a prostate nurse in the urology unit.

You should have been given more information about dynamic prostate brachytherapy. If you have not received this information, please ask us for it.

What is a phosphate enema?

An enema is fluid that is placed in your rectum (bottom) to clear your bowel. The phosphate enema you have been given is a single-dose, disposable enema that will clear out and clean the section of your bowel that will be examined during the procedure. You need to use this enema before you come for your surgery, to make sure your doctor can get a good picture of your prostate with the ultrasound probe.

Speak to a doctor or nurse in the unit before you use the enema if:

• you know that you have an inflammatory or ulcerative bowel condition
• your doctor has asked you to reduce your sodium intake

How to use a phosphate enema

The phosphate enema should only be given via your rectum (bottom). Please read these instructions all the way through before starting your enema.

You'll need to use the enema at least 2 hours before leaving home on the day of your surgery. If you need to leave home very early on the day of your procedure, you can use the enema the night before, a couple of hours before you go to bed.

Preparation for a phosphate enema

To use the enema you’ll need:

• a jug or bowl of warm tap water (not boiling water)
• a towel
• a bed to lie on

Doing a phosphate enema

1. Put the unopened enema bottle into the jug of warm water for about 5 minutes. This will warm the enema to body temperature.
2. Spread the towel on the bed, where your bottom will be. Remove the orange cap from the enema bottle.
3. Lie down on the bed on your left side, with your bottom on the towel.
4. Insert the full length of the nozzle carefully and gently into your bottom. If you find it too uncomfortable, you can try using some Vaseline^® or other lubricant.
5. Squeeze the bottle until it's empty.
6. When all the liquid has been inserted, stay lying on your left side. The enema should produce a rapid response. Try to hold the enema liquid in your bottom for as long as you can (ideally up to 15 minutes). When you can no longer hold it, get up slowly and walk to the toilet. You might feel a little unsteady after the enema, so make sure you do not get up too quickly. Occasionally, people feel faint when they try to get up. If this happens to you, lie back down until the feeling passes.
7. Throw away the used enema bottle in a plastic bag and place it in the bin.