Lethal Complication From Inappropriately Prepared Polyethylene Glycol (Golytely) in a Pediatric Patient

Polyethylene glycol with electrolytes (PEG-ELS, Golytely) is a widely used osmotic solution for colonic preparation in adults who are undergoing colonoscopy or colon surgeries. In pediatric patients, It is approved for the same indications and as a treatment for severe chronic constipation. PEG-ELS has an acceptable safety profile and minimal side effects. The most common adverse effects are nausea and abdominal cramps. Golytely is known to cause minimal electrolyte disturbances with no major sequelae. A few case reports have been published describing the effect of PEG-ELS on the electrolytes. In this report, we present a case of an inappropriate preparation of Golytely administered to a pediatric patient leading to severe electrolyte disturbances and death.