Warning after patient has severe reaction to bowel prep
Steer women over 50 away from hypertonic bowel preparation, say doctors
28th October 2019
Women over 50 should use an isotonic bowel prep before a colonoscopy, according to Queensland doctors reporting the case of severe hyponatraemia secondary to a hypertonic bowel prep.
A 61-year-old iron-deficient woman was admitted to a rural hospital for bowel preparation prior to an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy.
She was admitted as a precaution because of dizziness, chest tightness and nausea during a previous attempt to take the prep two months earlier.
Once in hospital, she was given one sachet of hypertonic bowel preparation in 250ml water