Fatal poisoning from sodium phosphate enema. Case report and experimental study

An overdose of a common over-the-counter sodium phosphate enema solution was fatal in an infant. The marked hypernatremia, acidemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia observed before death were also produced in a porcine model. A study using pigs showed that the enema solution was lethal if retain...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 257; no. 16; p. 2190
Main Authors Martin, R R, Lisehora, G R, Braxton, Jr, M, Barcia, P J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 24.04.1987
Subjects
Acidosis - chemically induced
Animals
Colostomy
Enema - adverse effects
Female
Heart Arrest - chemically induced
Humans
Infant
Intestinal Absorption
Male
Phosphates - administration & dosage
Phosphates - metabolism
Phosphates - poisoning
Swine
Water-Electrolyte Imbalance - chemically induced
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Summary:An overdose of a common over-the-counter sodium phosphate enema solution was fatal in an infant. The marked hypernatremia, acidemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia observed before death were also produced in a porcine model. A study using pigs showed that the enema solution was lethal if retained in doses above 20 mL/kg, equivalent to four pediatric-sized enemas in a 2-year-old child. Even normal doses of the enema solution caused measurable changes in serum phosphorus and calcium levels.
ISSN:0098-7484
DOI:10.1001/jama.1987.03390160076030