Fatal poisoning from sodium phosphate enema. Case report and experimental study
R. R. Martin, G. R. Lisehora, M. Braxton Jr and P. J. Barcia
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.
