Clipping Board » Medical Harm ─ Unnecessary or inappropriate medical procedures can also cause harm.
09/12/2012 [United Daily News / Reporter Hsiu Jui-ying / Tainan Report]
Can a colonoscopy cause kidney failure? A 65-year-old woman underwent a colonoscopy due to fecal occult blood and was diagnosed with acute kidney failure a week later during a follow-up visit. Fortunately, her kidney function gradually recovered after treatment. Doctors warn that bowel-cleansing agents may lead to kidney damage, and kidney function should be monitored after a colonoscopy.
Lin Meng-te, director of the dialysis center at Guo General Hospital and a nephrologist, noted that while many hospitals check kidney function before a colonoscopy, both patients and doctors may overlook follow-up kidney function tests afterward. Given the high prevalence of colorectal cancer in Taiwan and the large number of people undergoing colonoscopies, this issue deserves special attention.
The woman in question had long-standing issues with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. She was recently diagnosed with fecal occult blood and, due to a family history of colorectal cancer, was scheduled for a colonoscopy.
Her kidney function was normal before the procedure, but a follow-up test a week later revealed a rapid decline to stage 3 chronic kidney failure (stage 4 is considered severe). Doctors attributed this to kidney failure induced by the bowel-cleansing agent.
Lin explained that there are various types of bowel-cleansing agents, with sodium phosphate oral solution being widely used due to its effectiveness. However, the rapid absorption of large amounts of phosphate can lead to calcium phosphate deposits in the kidneys, causing damage, necrosis, and fibrosis.
The incidence of such cases ranges from 1% to 6%, particularly affecting those over 65, women, individuals with pre-existing kidney issues, those taking medications that affect kidney blood flow, or those who consume insufficient water during the process.
Some patients develop symptoms within 24 hours, such as cramps and confusion, while others may gradually develop chronic kidney disease over days or months. Since early-stage kidney disease often has no obvious symptoms, it can easily be overlooked. Lin recommends drinking 1,500 to 2,000 cc of water when using sodium phosphate bowel cleansers and monitoring kidney function afterward to allow for early intervention and recovery.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=412119#ixzz26G7ccDwI
Post-colonoscopy Acute Renal Failure
Can a colonoscopy cause kidney failure? A 65-year-old woman underwent a colonoscopy due to fecal occult blood and was diagnosed with acute kidney failure a week later during a follow-up visit. Fortunately, her kidney function gradually recovered after treatment. Doctors warn that bowel-cleansing agents may lead to kidney damage, and kidney function should be monitored after a colonoscopy.
Lin Meng-te, director of the dialysis center at Guo General Hospital and a nephrologist, noted that while many hospitals check kidney function before a colonoscopy, both patients and doctors may overlook follow-up kidney function tests afterward. Given the high prevalence of colorectal cancer in Taiwan and the large number of people undergoing colonoscopies, this issue deserves special attention.
The woman in question had long-standing issues with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. She was recently diagnosed with fecal occult blood and, due to a family history of colorectal cancer, was scheduled for a colonoscopy.
Her kidney function was normal before the procedure, but a follow-up test a week later revealed a rapid decline to stage 3 chronic kidney failure (stage 4 is considered severe). Doctors attributed this to kidney failure induced by the bowel-cleansing agent.
Lin explained that there are various types of bowel-cleansing agents, with sodium phosphate oral solution being widely used due to its effectiveness. However, the rapid absorption of large amounts of phosphate can lead to calcium phosphate deposits in the kidneys, causing damage, necrosis, and fibrosis.
The incidence of such cases ranges from 1% to 6%, particularly affecting those over 65, women, individuals with pre-existing kidney issues, those taking medications that affect kidney blood flow, or those who consume insufficient water during the process.
Some patients develop symptoms within 24 hours, such as cramps and confusion, while others may gradually develop chronic kidney disease over days or months. Since early-stage kidney disease often has no obvious symptoms, it can easily be overlooked. Lin recommends drinking 1,500 to 2,000 cc of water when using sodium phosphate bowel cleansers and monitoring kidney function afterward to allow for early intervention and recovery.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=412119#ixzz26G7ccDwI