title: Five days of whole-bowel irrigation in a case of pediatric iron ingestion.
abstract: The maximum duration and volume of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (PEG-ELS) that can be safely administered during whole-bowel irrigation of the poisoned patient are poorly defined. We present a case of a 33-month-old boy who ingested at least 160 mg/kg elemental iron and received 44.3 L of PEG-ELS (2,953 ml/kg) over 5 days because of the persistence of iron tablets in teh gastrointestinal tract. The child remained clinically well after initiation of PEG-ELS therapy, and further significant iron absorption did not appear to occur. The rectal effluent cleared within 2 days of the start of PEG-ELS therapy despite the persistence of iron in the gastrointestinal tract as shown on radiography. No adverse effects resulted from teh large volume or duration of the PEG-ELS therapy. This is the greatest reported volume of PEG-ELS to be used for whole-bowel irrigation in the treatment of a toxic ingestion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kaczorowski
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wax
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003106:Colon; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols