title: Bowel preparation: comparing metabolic and electrolyte changes when using sodium phosphate/polyethylene glycol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many patients with various types of colonic pathology undergo invasive procedures that require mechanical bowel preparation. The most commonly used medications for bowel preparation include phosphate-containing drugs which are low cost and enable this procedure to be performed in an outpatient setting, as opposed to other medications, such as polyethylene glycol. Recent studies have suggested that freely using phosphate-containing drugs might lead to renal function impairment in a small group of patients. Despite this, many surgeons still use these drugs to prepare their patients. We conducted a comparative study to check the side effects of phosphate-containing drugs compared to polyethylene glycol when used for bowel cleansing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a double blind prospective randomized study that included 40 patients undergoing surgery for colonic pathology, all of whom underwent bowel cleansing (20 with sodium phosphate and 20 with polyethylene glycol). During the perioperative course, electrolyte parameters were collected from serum and urine and compared between the two groups of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in electrolyte and metabolic parameters were shown in both groups, but more prominently in patients prepared with sodium phosphate. In addition, early signs of renal function impairment appeared in this group. The differences in metabolic and electrolyte changes between the two groups were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of this study, we propose that the wide use of phosphate-containing drugs for colonic preparation might be dangerous for the specific group of patients that is prone to develop renal failure or electrolyte abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Zahar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavy
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weissgarten
authors.forename: Zoya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Haitov
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halevy
mesh_terms: D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery* / Q000652:urine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D004573:Electrolytes; D010710:Phosphates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C018279:sodium phosphate