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Solar Blue User Manual
Chapter 9
9.3.3
Solid-state catheters
You can use reusable solid-state catheters with filling lumen and a balloon
fixation point at the tip.
You can use standard balloons or make a balloon catheter as follows. Use a
latex condom as a balloon. Cut the top, eight centimeters (approximately 3.5")
off the condom. Use a piece of stitch wire to tie the condom to the catheter. Tie
it in such way that the rectal transducer is inside the balloon, while the anal
transducer is outside the balloon. Be careful not to apply excessive force to the
transducers or catheter. Do not bend the catheter.
The procedure to prepare the investigation is as follows:
▪
Premoisten the catheter in water as described in manual of the
manufacturer.
▪
In the database program, enter and select the
patient name
.
▪
Again, in the database program, click the
New investigation
button.
▪
Click the
Anorectal manometry
button to start the pre-test.
▪
Connect the premoistened catheter to the Solar Blue module.
▪
Press the
Zero
all
button to zero all pressures to atmospheric pressure.
▪
Gently insert the catheter in the anal canal of the patient and position the
balloon in the rectum.
▪
Ask the patient to cough to check the registration of all pressures.
▪
Press the
Start investigation
button to start the investigation. Follow the
procedure for the tests as described in the next paragraphs.
9.3.4
Positioning of the catheter
The position of the catheter in the anal sphincter depends on the layout of the
catheter:
•
If you are using the four-channel spiral catheter with one cm spacing, then
the sensors should be positioned in the anal canal and the balloon in the
rectum. It is important
not to
move the catheter during the investigation and
performance of all anorectal tests.
•
If you are using the four-channel catheter with radial sensors, you can
position the radial sensors at the high-pressure zone and perform all tests
including the profiles. Alternatively, you can position the radial sensors at
the proximal level (e.g., 4 cm inside the anal canal) and perform all tests,
and then withdraw the catheter 1 cm and repeat these tests. The insertion
depth must be marked with the
cm
button in the software.
