Aspiration: a possible severe complication in colonoscopy preparation of elderly people by orthograde intestine lavage.
Total gut lavage is a widely recommended method in preparation for colonoscopy and there are almost no reports of severe complications in the literature. Application of orthograde lavage by a nasogastric tube may be necessary in disorientated patients, assisted by slight medical sedation, if necessary. Despite absolutely correct appliance of the method, a case of severe aspiration with subsequent hypoxemia and stroke in a senile female patient, suffering from a common hiatal hernia, is described.
Gabel
A
A
Karlsruhe, Germany. medilekt@aol.com
Müller
S
S
D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects*