Philippine E-Journals

Effectiveness of an Isotonic Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Sports Beverage in Preventing Hypokalemia and Hyponatremia Among Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy: A Pilot Study

Beverly Biaoco-Young | Marcos Bito-onon

Discipline: Medical Sciences

 

Abstract:

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for imaging the colonic mucosa to identify lesions for excision biopsy. For a colonoscopy to be successful, a thorough bowel cleansing is necessary; however, it can result to electrolyte imbalances. Co-administration of carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions may help prevent such complications. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an isotonic carbohydrate-electrolyte sports beverage in preventing hypokalemia and hyponatremia, when given for fluid replacement during bowel preparation for colonoscopy. This pilot study was conducted in a tertiary hospital for 6 months after approval from the Ethics Review Committee. Patients scheduled for elective colonoscopy were included. Two tablets of Bisacodyl 5mg/tablet per orem, followed by 1 tablespoon of phosphosoda dissolved in 1L Sprite was used for bowel preparation in both groups. Patients with normal baseline sodium and potassium were included. Group A patients were given the sports beverage while Group B patients were given distilled water. The post-bowel preparation serum sodium and potassium of the two groups were compared. For the Sports Beverage Group, both the serum sodium and potassium increased from baseline in 60% of patients, respectively. For the Distilled Water Group, the serum sodium decreased in 70% of patients and the serum potassium also decreased in 80% of patients after bowel preparation. For the Sports Beverage Group, 100% had normal sodium and 10% had hypokalemia while for the Distilled Water Group, 10% had hyponatremia and 40% had hypokalemia. None of the patients developed hypernatremia and hyperkalemia in both groups. The mean serum sodium between the two groups after bowel preparation was not statistically significant (p-value=0.531 vs 0.425). For the serum potassium, the mean values of the two groups after bowel preparation was statistically significant (p-value=0.044). Co-administration of an isotonic carbohydrate-electrolyte sports beverage is effective in preventing hypokalemia among patients undergoing bowel preparation for colonoscopy