Whole bowel irrigation in pediatric patients.

Whole bowel irrigation was used in 24 patients ages 8 to 17 yr, mean 13 yr, in preparation for colonoscopy (18), colon surgery (2), therapeutic irrigation for treatment of drug overdose (2), and constipation (2). An average of 9 liters warm, normal saline with added KCL (5 mEq/liter) was infused through a nasogastric tube over a period of 7 +/- 2 hr (mean +/- SD). This resulted in a weight gain of 2% and a mild hyperchloremia. The vital signs remained stable and there were no complications. The colonic preparation was complete in 10, adequate in 8 and unsatisfactory in 2. The irrigation was effective in the treatment of overdose ingestion and constipation. It is concluded that whole bowel irrigation is a satisfactory method of colonic preparation of pediatric patients.