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The Rectal Administration of Lactulose
Author(s) -
Ratnaike R. N.,
Hicks E. P.,
Hislop I. G.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1975.tb03642.x
Subject(s) - lactulose , medicine , administration (probate law) , rectal administration , gastroenterology , political science , law
Summary: A lactulose colonic washout (pH 4.5) was administered to six male patients with portal systemic encephalopathy. Estimation of blood ammonia levels and electroencephalography were performed before and after each treatment. Five patients recorded a significant fall in blood ammonia level as a result of lactulose therapy ( P < 025). In the sixth subject, an enema with buffered physiological saline, pH 4.5, induced a fall in ammonia which was not increased by subsequent lactulose solution. Improvement in the electroencephalogram was recorded in all periods where a lactulose colonic washout produced a fall in blood ammonia level.