title: Gastrointestinal lavage reduces total body water.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to measure changes in total body water (TBW) in surgical patients after gastrointestinal lavage.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, controlled study we used bioelectrical impedance to calculate the change in TBW in two groups of general surgical patients in the pre-operative period: the colonic lavage group consisted of patients fasted overnight who received 3 L of gastrointestinal lavage solution (GLS; n = 30), and the control group consisted of patients fasted overnight only (n = 30). Total body water was measured before and after either lavage and fasting (lavage group) or fasting alone (control group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lavage group had a mean TBW loss of 729 mL +/- s.e. 217 and the control group a mean loss of 84 mL +/- s.e. 93 (P < 0.01 unpaired t-test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that GLS results in a net loss of TBW. Although this fluid loss is modest, it may be important in surgical patients who have minimal cardiovascular reserve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Buckland
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elbourne
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012996:Solutions; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D012996:Solutions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols