Maintenance of anal dilators

The most feared complication following any surgery is the possibility of infection. When your patients are in your care, you do your very best to maintain a clean environment and make sure that all the implements they come in contact with--from anal dilators to x-ray machines--have been sterilized.

Whenever a patient or caretaker is entrusted with medical care following a surgical procedure--especially a procedure such as a colostomy, laparoscopy, or anoplasty--it is critical that they hold to this same standard of cleanliness. Educating patients on the importance of the proper cleaning and maintenance of medical equipment, a anal dilator, implants, and supplies they will be using during follow-up care is crucial for a positive outcome.

Patients and caretakers should be encouraged to follow a few simple rules. Equipment, such as the medical scissors used when removing surgical dressings, should be wiped cleaned with rubbing alcohol or an antibacterial solution after every use. Gauze, medical tape, and other disposable supplies should be kept in sterile packaging whenever possible. One-time-use gloves should be worn whenever dressings are being changed in order to protect the patient from bacterial infection and the caretaker from bodily fluids. (Those with sensitivity or allergies to latex should be careful to use latex-free products.)

Because anal dilators come in contact with both fecal matter and delicate tissues, they require special care. Patients and caretakers should be instructed to wash them well with soap and hot water after each use and boil them periodically if they will be used over an extended period of time. Dilators should be inspected before each use. A anal dilator should never be used if it is cracked or has any rough edges.