Life-threatening respiratory failure following accidental infusion of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution into the lung

Functional fecal retention is the most common cause of encopresis in childr en. Hospitalization may be required to clear the bowel following failure of outpatient management. Although the safety and efficacy of polyethylene gl ycol electrolyte solution is well established in children older than 6 mont hs (1), its use should be carefully monitored in patients with altered ment al status or impaired airway protective reflexes. We report the accidental infusion of NuLytely(R) into the lungs of an 11-year-old female patient who consequently developed life-threatening acute lung injury She rapidly deve loped respiratory failure requiring emergent tracheal intubation and suctio ning, followed by mechanical ventilation. Careful monitoring is needed to a void this potential complication if polyethylene glycol solution is infused via a nasogastric tube.