Frequency of Hyponatremia Caused by Polyethylene Glycol Solution When Used as a Bowel Cleansing Agent for Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a useful tool used in modern medicine and it is increasingly being employed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. PEG is very often used for bowel preparation. PEG solutions clean the bowel with less water and electrolyte shifts, primarily by causing mechanical effect of large-volume lavage 1. However, there are some cases of hyponatremia reported due to the use of PEG. Life-threatening fluid and electrolyte disturbances are more likely to occur in patients with risk factors, such as old age, use of SSRIs and thiazide diuretics, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure or with a history of electrolyte abnormalities 2.

Although sporadic case reports of hyponatremia and other electrolyte imbalances after bowel preparation have been reported, but well-designed studies are lacking on this subject. Literature search did not reveal any local studies on this subject. This study was designed to find frequency of sodium disorders after bowel cleansing by Polyethylene glycol solution for colonoscopies in Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau, Civil Hospital Karachi.