A Crappy Choice?

21 Nov 2008 by fracas

It seems potty mouth is back in vogue!

I wrote about this a while ago at the fracas blog but some just can’t believe or imagine it. A legitimate treatment for those suffering the effects of the C. Difficile bacterium, is a fecal transplant, and yes… while we make jokes (myself included), there is growing evidence that it is effective.

The procedure:

The procedure involves getting a close relative of the patient, such as a sibling, to donate several days-worth of stool. Louie tests the stool for diseases such as hepatitis and HIV and then mixes it with saline to create liquid feces. He then administers the stool to the patient through an enema. [1]

Louie said the technique allows good bacteria from the transplanted stool to reduce the number of C. difficile bacteria in the intestines and to restore normal intestinal function.

In a second type of procedure, the donated matter is transfered via a nasogastric tube. [2]

I imagine this method creates a bit higher of an ”ick” factor on the part of the patient and it does certainly make all the “potty mouth” jokes (of which I too, am guilty) a little too far on the realistic side. Heck… fecal transplants have even made the big time… being featured on a recent episode of the show Grey’s Anatomy.

Still… while many are queasy at the thought, I wonder… if we were the one suffering the effects of C. Difficile, would we lose that uneasiness for the prospect of being healthy again?

So… how about it?

Would you do it for someone else?

Would you receive one?

Jump right in and tell us why or why not… and would you care which procedure? This… is information we just have to know!

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