Comparison of fluid volumes with whole bowel irrigation in a simulated overdose of ibuprofen

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of 2 different fluid volumes of polyethylene glycol whole bowel irrigation (WBI) solution on absorption of an ingested toxin in a simulated overdose model. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, crossover trial. SETTING: Clinical research unit. PARTICIPANTS: Nine adult men. INTERVENTIONS: On 2 separate days, volunteers ingested approximately 75 mg/kg of ibuprofen. In treatment 1, 30 minutes after ingestion of ibuprofen, a 3-L WBI at 2 L/h was begun. This procedure was repeated in treatment 2 with an 8-L WBI administered at 2 L/h. Fourteen timed serum samples were collected prior to and after drug ingestion for a 24-hour period and analyzed for ibuprofen concentration. The peak serum concentration, time to peak concentration, total area under the serum concentration time curve (AUC), clearance, and volume of distribution were compared. RESULTS: The mean ± SD AUCs did not differ between the 3-L (1185.3 ± 216.9 mg · h/L) and 8-L (1153.5 ± 251.5 mg · h/L) treatments (p = 0.710). Time to peak serum concentration, peak serum concentration, clearance, and volume of distribution were comparable for the 2 treatments (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicated that a total WBI volume of 3 L would be expected to perform as well as 8 L administered at the same rate. We recommend that further research define the optimal dose of WBI in acute ingestion of toxins.