Soapsuds Enema - Enema

What happens later at home?

If the enema was given for constipation, the person should check his or her bowel movements for further constipation.

If the enema was given to prepare for surgery or for an exam, it may need to be repeated. The goal of this type of enema is to cleanse the bowel. It needs to be repeated until there is no fecal matter expelled after the enema.

After a barium enema, the person will have white stool for a short time as the body expels the barium.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

Sometimes a person may feel faint while having an enema. A more serious risk is a perforated colon, but this is very rare. A perforated colon occurs when the tip of the enema pokes through the colon and causes damage to the tissue.