Whole bowel irrigation in pediatric patients: a comparison of irrigating solutions.

The effect of whole bowel irrigation (WBI) with a polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS; 27 children) was compared to the WBI with two electrolytic solutions: normal saline with added potassium chloride (NS; 25 children) and Ringer's injection (RI; 29 children). The PEG-ELS required less volume and time, and did not cause the weight gain, hemodilution, and hyperchloremia associated with use of the electrolytic solutions. A balanced PEG-ELS is preferred in WBI of children.