title: Effects of oral sodium picosulphate Picolax on urea and electrolytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of sodium picosulphate (Picolax) oral bowel preparation on levels of serum urea, electrolytes and glucose in patients undergoing bowel preparation for barium enema.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, non-randomised, pre-test and post-test trial was conducted with 144 patients aged 34-87 years, who had agreed to undergo a barium enema. Changes in serum urea, sodium, potassium, magnesium and glucose following Picolax treatment were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant post-Picolax reductions in serum concentrations of urea (mean difference 0.556 (95 per cent confidence intervals (CI) 0.321-0.791) mmol/L), sodium (mean difference 1.299 (0.799-1.799) mmol/L) and potassium (mean difference 0.163 (0.0853-0.241) mmol/L). Similar findings were observed for sodium and urea when the sample was stratified according to age: under 60 years (n=56) or 60 years and over (n=88). However, there was no significant change in potassium in patients aged under 60 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In normal circumstances, use of Picolax oral bowel preparation results in a statistically, but not clinically, significant reduction in concentration of serum urea, sodium and potassium.
authors.affiliation: Wythenshawe, South Manchester Primary Care Trust. fran.ryan@smpct.manchester.nwest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anobile
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scutt
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002951:Citrates; D003287:Contrast Media; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood*; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010847:Picolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002400:Cathartics; D002951:Citrates; D003287:Contrast Media; D004573:Electrolytes; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010847:Picolines; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D014508:Urea; D008274:Magnesium; C005701:picosulfate sodium; D011188:Potassium