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Gastrointestinal lavage reduces total body water
G H Buckland1, I Elbourne, P J Crowe
1Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Gastrointestinal lavage (GLS) causes a modest but significant loss of total body water (TBW) in surgical patients. This fluid loss, measured by bioelectrical impedance, is important for patients with limited cardiovascular reserve.
Area of Science:
- Surgical patient management
- Fluid balance monitoring
- Gastrointestinal procedures
Background:
- Pre-operative fasting is standard for surgical patients.
- Gastrointestinal lavage is sometimes used to clear the bowel.
- The impact of lavage on total body water (TBW) is not well quantified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure changes in total body water (TBW) in surgical patients undergoing gastrointestinal lavage.
- To compare TBW changes between patients receiving gastrointestinal lavage solution (GLS) and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, controlled study involving two groups of general surgical patients.
- Bioelectrical impedance analysis used to calculate TBW changes.
- Groups: Colonic lavage group (n=30) received 3L GLS after overnight fast; Control group (n=30) had overnight fast only.
Main Results:
- The colonic lavage group experienced a mean TBW loss of 729 mL.
- The control group had a mean TBW loss of 84 mL.
- The difference in TBW loss between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Gastrointestinal lavage solution (GLS) leads to a net loss of total body water (TBW).
- While the fluid loss is modest, it can be clinically significant for surgical patients with compromised cardiovascular reserves.
- Further consideration of fluid management is warranted in patients undergoing gastrointestinal lavage.