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PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 3 September 2000, p. e37
,,, and
From the * Department of Neonatology, Children's National Medical
Center; and the Newborn Service Department, George Washington
University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
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ABSTRACT |
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Abstract
Discussion
References
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A 6-week-old premature infant who was born at 29 weeks of gestation presented to the emergency department with a several-hour history of stiffness and increased alarms on his apnea monitor at home. On arrival he was noted to have generalized seizures, apnea, and bradycardia. He was intubated and required cardiopulmonary resuscitation including chest compressions and medications. After stabilization he was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit for further management. His initial laboratory tests revealed a serum calcium level of 2.4 mg/dL (normal range: 8.4-10.2 mg/dL) and a serum phosphorus level of 28.5 mg/dL (normal range: 2.4-4.5 mg/dL). During the first week of admission, the infant's mother reported that she had administered a full pediatric Fleets enema (CB Fleet Company Inc, Lynchburg, VA) to him. The infant was discharged after 12 days of hospitalization.
Anticipatory guidance on the stool patterns and behavior of infants can prevent misconceptions about constipation that are especially prevalent in new parents. Proper management of constipation, should it arise, should be addressed with all parents at early well-child visits to avoid hazardous complications of treatments. hypocalcemia, seizures, premature infants, enema.
There have been a few historical reports of fatal
electrolyte disturbances after the administration of enemas for
constipation relief.1,2 This article describes the first
reported case of a former premature infant who presented with profound
hypocalcemic seizures and cardiac arrest after the administration of a
sodium phosphate Fleets enema at home.
A 6-week-old premature infant who was born at 29 weeks'
gestation presented to a community hospital emergency department with a
several-hour history of stiffness and increased alarms on his apnea
monitor at home. On arrival, he was noted to have generalized seizures,
apnea, and bradycardia. He was intubated and required cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, including chest compressions and 3 doses of epinephrine,
before restoration of a normal heart rate. He also received 3 mEq/kg of
sodium bicarbonate, 3 mL/kg D10%W, and 50 mg/kg
of cefotaxime via bilateral intraosseous lines during the
resuscitation. Phenobarbital was given in an attempt to stop the
seizure activity, without success. After stabilization he was
transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at our institution for
further management.
History obtained from the birth hospital revealed that he was born at
29 weeks of gestation to a 36-year-old, gravida 7, para 4 mother.
Pregnancy was complicated by premature prolonged rupture of amniotic
membranes for 3 days before delivery. Screening test for group B
streptococcus was negative. His birth weight was only 992 g
(<25%), which prompted a work-up for intrauterine growth restriction
including a normal karyotype and negative screening tests for
toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and syphilis.
Except for a few episodes of apnea, the postnatal course was
uncomplicated and he was discharged from the hospital at 4 weeks old
with an apnea monitor and no medications. A sleep study test was not
available. He was discharged on the follow-up milk formula,
Neocare (Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus,
OH), but his primary caretaker (a maternal aunt) was feeding him
regular infant formula, Similac (Ross Products Division, Abbott
Laboratories), for financial reasons. Proper preparation of formula was
described on admission. His caretakers reported no events on the apnea
monitor before the day of admission and no concerns except for
constipation that was described as infrequent soft stools with apparent
straining on defecation. At the time of admission they reported no use
of constipation remedies or use of other formula, water, cow's milk,
cereal, or juices. He had not seen a pediatrician since discharge.
Physical examination on arrival to the neonatal intensive care unit at
the Children's National Medical Center was remarkable for a pale,
lethargic, and intubated infant with frequent spasms of the extremities
and slow jerking of the head to one side. Axillary temperature was
36.7°C, pulse rate was 148/minute, and mean arterial pressure was 40 mm Hg. He was breathing spontaneously on the ventilator. The anterior
fontanel was open and flat. Pupils were equal and reactive. A bullous
skin lesion with an erythematous base was present above the umbilicus,
where a temperature probe had been placed during resuscitation. Cardiac
examination revealed regular rate and rhythm with no murmurs. The
capillary refill was 4 to 5 seconds, and all pulses were weak. Lungs
were clear on auscultation with equally good air entry bilaterally. The
abdomen was soft and nontender, but distended. Bowel sounds were
absent. The infant's tone was generally poor with irregular movements
as described above.
Initial laboratory data on admission are presented in Table
1. Chest radiogram revealed a left lower
lobe opacity believed to be an infiltrate because no previous films
were available for comparison. Head computed tomography scan was within
normal limits for gestational age.
TABLE 1
CASE REPORT
Laboratory Values on Admission and at Discharge
Because the serum phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium were grossly abnormal, serum parathyroid hormone level was measured. Intravenous boluses of magnesium and calcium were administered until normal serum levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus were obtained by the fourth day of hospitalization. The infant was able to maintain normal serum minerals values as intravenous fluid was weaned off and feeding with the follow-up milk formula, EnfaCare-22 (Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Evansville, IN), was established (Table 1). Phenobarbital was discontinued, and no further seizure activity was noted. All cultures were negative and antibiotics were discontinued after 7 days. Intact serum parathyroid hormone level was 173 pg/mL (normal range: 12-72 pg/mL).
During the first week of admission, the biologic mother reported that while under her care on the day before admission, she had administered a full pediatric Fleets enema to her infant. The infant was discharged from the hospital under the care of his aunt after 12 days of hospitalization. Follow-up with serum parathyroid hormone level was recommended to the primary pediatrician. Anticipatory guidance on infant stool patterns and the management of constipation were discussed. The infant was referred to the Women, Infant and Children program for formula supply.
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DISCUSSION |
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Abstract
Discussion
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This is a case of a near fatal electrolyte disturbance caused by an over-the-counter remedy for constipation. Straining with defecation or changes in stool color or frequency can be a significant cause of concern for new parents. Well-meaning health care personnel may unnecessarily heighten this concern by providing parental education that overemphasizes monitoring infant defecation patterns.
Calcium and phosphorous are tightly regulated by the interdependent actions of parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, and calcitonin.3 The fetal build-up for these minerals starts to increase at 24 weeks of gestation, and the peak accretion occurs at 34 to 36 weeks of gestation.4 For this reason, along with a suboptimal intake of calcium and phosphorus, premature infants become deficient in these minerals after birth. The recommended daily allowance for these minerals is much higher for preterm infants compared with term infants.5,6 This patient had normal serum calcium, phosphorous, and alkaline phosphatase enzyme levels at discharge from the birth hospital but had been home on a less than optimal formula, in terms of mineral supply, for his gestational age. However, his serum alkaline phosphatase enzyme level on this admission was still within the normal range. The differential diagnosis of hypocalcemia can be classified by early versus late onset of the symptoms. Early-onset hypocalcemia usually presents in the first 48 hours of life and is frequently secondary to prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, maternal diabetes mellitus, or maternal use of anticonvulsants.7 Late onset, as in this case, was historically associated with early use of cow milk-based formulas with a high phosphate load and a low calcium to phosphorous ratio. Infant formulas currently on the market have more favorable calcium to phosphorous ratios and, therefore, may reduce this problem. Other causes of late-onset hypocalcemia include phosphate loads from other sources, hypomagnesemia, and hypoparathyroidism. In this patient, the high phosphate load from the enema led to the severe hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia that resulted in seizure activity and cardiorespiratory arrest. The elevated parathyroid hormone is secondary to the state of severe hypocalcemia.
Sodium phosphate enemas, like many other over-the-counter medications,
are not recommended for children <2 years of age. They do not require
a prescription; however, they are kept behind the counter in many
pharmacies so consumers can be instructed on the proper usage. A rectal
dosage of a pediatric enema contains 11.4 mmol of dibasic sodium
phosphorous and 39.7 mmol of monobasic sodium phosphorous. The
recommended daily allowance for phosphorous in an infant is only 1 to 2 mmol/kg/day. In the past, many physicians would recommend enemas for
infants with the belief that very little phosphorous is absorbed during
rectal administration. There have been a few case reports of fatal
poisoning and severe electrolyte disturbances after the administration
of phosphate enemas in children of different ages. One fatal case
resulted from enemas administered in the hospital before
surgery.2 This case led the authors to perform an
experimental study with piglets to measure the absorption of
electrolytes after different dosages of enemas. The administration of
enema
even at a dose as low as 20 mL/kgwas fatal.2
Although no longer recommended for infants' constipation, these products are still available for other uses such as preoperative bowel
preparation.
Anticipatory guidance on the stool patterns and behavior of infants can prevent misconceptions about constipation that are especially prevalent in new parents. Proper management of constipation, should it arise, should be addressed with all parents at early well-child visits to avoid hazardous complications of treatments.
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FOOTNOTES |
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Received for publication Jan 31, 2000; accepted Apr 4, 2000.
Address correspondence to Hany Z. Aly, MD, Department of Neonatology, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave, Washington, DC 20010. E-mail: haly{at}cnmc.org
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REFERENCES |
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This article has been cited by other articles:
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  A. Ashraf and K. McCormick Index of Suspicion In the Nursery NeoReviews, August 1, 2004; 5(8): e356 - e359. [Full Text] [PDF]
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