Comparative Study of Gastrointestinal Disposal Facility Following Administration of Magnesium Hydroxide, Lactulose and Polyethylene Glycol in Poisoned Patients

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Toxicology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Ethics, School of Medicine, Baghiatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

4 Student of Medicine, School of Medicine AND Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Toxicity is ability of chemicals to cause harm. One of the principles of dealing to poisoned patients is bowel decontamination via using laxatives or purgatives to wash out poison‐activated charcoal complex quickly. This study aimed to determine gastrointestinal transit time fallowing administration of magnesium hydroxide, lactulose and polyethylene glycol in poisoned patients referred to emergency ward of Noor hospital, Isfahan, Iran, in 2015.Methods: 140 patients were randomly divided into four equal groups of magnesium hydroxide (30 ml with 2‐4 glass of water every 1 hour), lactulose (30 ml with 2‐4 glass of water every 1 hour), polyethylene glycol (70 g with 1 liter water every 20 minutes) and activated charcoal with water. In all patients, the time of taking the first dose of laxatives until to defecation were obtained. The results were compared to each other using SPSS software.Findings: There were no significant differences in term of age, sex and toxicant types. The mean time between the first dose of laxative until to defecation was significantly different between the 4 groups (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Between the 3 studied laxatives, polyethylene glycol and then, magnesium hydroxide were more efficient in decreasing mean transit time. The difference in mean transit time between the 3 laxatives was not significant; but, in comparison to activated charcoal with water, the laxatives showed significant difference which was remarkable.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 33, Issue 366 - Serial Number 366
November and December 2016
Pages 2360-2367

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History

  • Receive Date: 18 November 2015
  • Revise Date: 20 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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