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Question :

Posted On : 01 Mar 2007

Sir, I am giving a personal experience of having a case of hyponatremia induced by a phosphate enema.
7 year old girl was given 75 ml of phosphate enema for evacuating the hard impacted stools. Within 5 minutes she started to vomit and became very lethargic. Sodium was 122 and potassium 2.9. She was managed with 500ml of Normal Saline given over 1hr, ORS by mouth. After the infusion, sodium was 132 and K plus 3.4 and she was symptomatically much better. My querries are 1} Is this complication following phosphate enema common? 2} Was the dose used too high {75 ml ,weight was 25.7 kg}? 3}Was the management right? 4} What is the most safe and effective enema in children?

Expert Answer :

No expert answer available.

Answer Discussion :

sn joshi

dose of enema is high

18 years ago

JAIME BIMSTEIN

IS NOT COMMON BUT EXPECTED TO HAPPEN. THE DOSE CAN BE AS MUCH AS 10ML-KG

18 years ago

chzafari2003

i think that this is a rare complication and dose was alright

18 years ago

DR EASH HOSKOTE

The most common complication would be dyselectrolytemia,particularty hyponatremia.Usually enema is avoided in children.Ideally, laxatives are much better and safer, particularly bulk laxatives. Enemas NO- NO.

18 years ago

saeedelsadek

the complication is not common with an adjusted dose ,which seems to be high in this case, fleet or retention enema is the safest.

18 years ago

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