RESUMO
The objective of this study was to determine the advantage and disadvantage of rectal tube retention by evaluating patient’s satisfaction (feeling) and complications that may occur. Subjects were divided into two groups. Rectal tube was not retained in the control groups and retrained in treatment groups. There are 30 patients in each group. 63 percent of subjects were female and mean age for control group was 51 years. 53 percent of subjects were male and mean age for treatment group was 57 years and mean duration of rectal tube retention was 4 days. Their results were as follows. 1. In the rectal tube retention group, 14.3 percent had moderate abdominal distention, 7.1 percent moderate tenesmus, 7.1 percent moderate rectal pain and 14.3 percent moderate anxiety regarding rectal tube retention. 2. Sigmoidoscopy after remove rectal tube in 24-48 hour showed 13 percent of patient in treatment group had erythematous rectal mucosa. 3. There were no perianal ulceration in the treatment group while ulceration were present in the control (10 percent). 4. The number of time for anal cleansing and the amount of pad used was much less in the treatment group than in the control group (p<0.01).