Surgical procedures are done to treat many conditions and are sometimes lifesaving. Despite all the benefits of surgery, it is associated with certain risks or complications. Infection at the site of surgery is one of those risks.
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause your colon to rapidly dilate, a condition called toxic megacolon. An infection inside your colon also can cause toxic megacolon. The condition is potentially life-threatening, which is why early treatment is...
Urosepsis is a systemic blood infection that develops when a urinary tract infection pathogen enters the bloodstream and disseminates throughout the entire body. A lay term for this critical condition is "blood poisoning" because an infection is...
Cleaning your colon and intestines is sometimes recommended for medical purposes but it is not typically recommended for detoxification purposes, according to Michael F. Picco, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic. Epsom salts have a multitude of uses,...
Colonics are a type of colon cleanse that may help to detoxify the body through the removal of fecal matter stuck in the large intestine. According to Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, the benefits of colonics have not been evaluated in clinical...
Several weight-loss schemes go by the name "salt flush lemonade diet." This type of crash diet encourages drinking magnesium sulfate and lemonade to "detoxify" your system while severely restricting caloric intake. Medical...
An ileostomy is a surgical procedure in which a stoma, or opening, is created from the ileum through the abdominal wall out to the skin. An external pouch resting on the outside of the body allows defecation when parts of the small or large...
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an irritable bowel disease characterized by sores and inflammation of the colon and rectum. Ulcerative colitis causes a variety of symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, fatigue and loss of appetite....
Colonic irrigation, also known as colon hydrotherapy, is a method of cleansing the colon using slightly pressurized irrigation. According to the Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center, colonic irrigation softens waste, allowing it to be eliminated...
Severe constipation can lead to bowel or fecal impaction, a condition where solid stool accumulates in the rectum and large intestine, hardening and making a normal bowel movement impossible. Bowel impaction occurs most frequently in the elderly,...
A colonic, an alternative treatment used to cleanse the body of wastes and improve a variety of medical conditions, removes hardened fecal matter from the bowel by washing water through the colon. According to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website,...
Many disorders can cause stomach tightening and pressure with backache, from constipation to labor. If you experience these symptoms and you're male, you can at least rule out labor. For any sexually active woman of childbearing age, labor is...
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial tissue, tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, in areas other than the uterus. Endometriosis is most often found in the pelvis near the uterus, but the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most...
Mayoclinic.com describes a colonoscopy as one of the best yet simplest exams to detect changes or abnormalities in the colon or rectum. A colonoscopy can reveal diseases such as cancer before they reach their advanced stages. During the procedure,...
Endometrial ablation is a procedure that is used to remove a thin layer of the uterine lining in an effort to control heavy menstrual bleeding. There are various ways that your practitioner can perform this procedure. Radiofrequency, freezing,...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found throughout the body. However, it tends to be most concentrated in the liver, the bile ducts, bones and placenta. Diseases that damage and destroy the cells of these organs lead to the release of alkaline...
Potassium chloride is an electrolyte given to treat or prevent a potassium deficiency, medically known as hypokalemia. It is often prescribed along with a potassium-depleting diuretic. Potassium chloride ER is an extended release version of the...
Colon hydrotherapy, also called colonic irrigation, is an alternative health care practice intended to cleanse toxins and built-up waste from the colon, also known as the bowel and large intestine. The procedure is said to keep the colon...
Colonics are non-surgical procedures which involve the introduction of liquids into the colon using rubber tubing and water pressure. Advocates say colonics remove bacteria, toxins and other unhealthy matter from the colon. Skeptics cite the fact...
Activated charcoal is used as an antidote to treat certain types of poisoning, such as spider bites, mushroom poisoning and snake bites. If you think that you or someone you know has been poisoned, you should contact the emergency services...
Antibiotic-associated olitis, also known as pseudomembranous colitis or C. difficile colitis, is an inflammation of the colon that occurs in some people who have received antibiotic therapy. Taking antibiotics kills many of the beneficial...
The abdomen contains the stomach, gallbladder, liver, intestine, kidneys, spleen and pancreas, therefore an abdominal operation can involve any combination of those organs. Surgeons operate on the abdomen for many reasons including infection,...
In some cases, bacteria that are normally present in our bodies and environment (without doing any harm) can cause serious infections when something within our bodies is altered. C. difficile commonly colonizes our bodies (particularly our...
Wheatgrass is used by natural health proponents to treat a number of conditions, from providing relief for ulcerative colitis to reducing the risk of colon cancer. Although some preliminary studies exist, there are no definite results available,...
Small, abnormal pouches called diverticula line the colon or large intestine and bulge outward through weak spots in the intestinal wall. Diverticulitis occurs when the pouches become inflamed from either bacteria or stool. The remedies for...
Diverticulitis is a common disease of the large intestine generally characterized by constipation, abdominal cramping and fever. Aging, too little fiber in the diet, lack of exercise and obesity are among the risk factors, according to the Mayo...
Detox practioners claim that toxins in our bodies are at the root of many chronic conditions, from fatigue and impotence to cancer and irritable bowel disease. Colon detox treatment involves either laxatives or enemas to remove toxins and dried...
Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches called diverticula that bulge out from weak spots on the lining of the intestines become inflamed, causing pain, fever, nausea and changes in bowel patterns. Some patients with severe cases of...
