Effect of whole-bowel irrigation on the antidotal efficacy of oral activated charcoal.
Whole-bowel irrigation was studied in three volunteer subjects and compared with oral activated charcoal as a gastrointestinal decontamination procedure for acute drug overdose. The volunteer subjects were given 650 mg aspirin and were assigned randomly to the following treatment groups: 24-hour urine collection only; immediate whole-bowel irrigation with a polyethylene glycol solution; 50 g oral activated charcoal followed by whole-bowel irrigation; and oral activated charcoal alone. The cumulative 24-hour urinary salicylate excretion was measured in each trial. Catharsis was achieved rapidly with whole-bowel irrigation. Oral activated charcoal without catharsis was most effective in decreasing aspirin absorption (P = .011). These results do not support the routine use of a cathartic in combination with oral activated charcoal.
Rosenberg
P J
PJ
Emergency Department, Sunnybrook Medical Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Livingstone
D J
DJ
McLellan
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002606:Charcoal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007422:Intestines; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
D002606:Charcoal; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D001241:Aspirin