title: Whole-bowel irrigation as treatment for zinc sulfate overdose.
abstract: A 16-year-old boy ingested approximately 50 zinc sulfate tablets (ZnSO4; 500-mg tablets). After spontaneous emesis, ipecac-induced emesis, and orogastric lavage, an abdominal radiograph performed four hours after ingestion still demonstrated approximately 50 ZnSO4 tablets within the stomach and three pills within the colon. Whole-bowel irrigation was begun with a polyethylene glycol lavage solution (PEG; Golytely) that was administered through a nasogastric tube; within one hour, the patient began producing a rectal effluent that contained pills. The patient remained asymptomatic throughout whole-bowel irrigation. Stool guaiac tests were negative. The serum chloride, however, increased from 105 to 127 mEq/L. Follow-up kidney, ureter, and bladder studies demonstrated the clearance of the zinc tablets from the gastrointestinal tract during the next 24 hours.
authors.affiliation: Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver 80204-4507.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Burkhart
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kulig
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rumack
mesh_terms: D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000293:Adolescent; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D006801:Humans; D007486:Ipecac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D013431:Sulfates / Q000506:poisoning*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D014567:Urography; D015032:Zinc / Q000506:poisoning*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; C033608:Golytely; D013431:Sulfates; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D007486:Ipecac; D015032:Zinc