Commercial Colon Hydrotherapy: A Common Practice with Serious Complications

Abstract

Purpose: Colon hydrotherapy is an alternative medical therapy intended to remove fecal waste and unidentified toxins from the colon and intestinal tract. It involves water injection, sometimes mixed with herbs or with other liquids, into the colon using special equipments. It has gained popularity recently although this new practice is not devoid of complications which can be sometimes dangerous. We aim here to report a case of perineal abscess as a complication of colon hydrotherapy. Methods: A 76-year-old gentleman with no significant past medical history presented with pelvic pain and genital organ swelling. One week prior to his presentation, he underwent colon hydrotherapy. Immediately after hydrotherapy, he suffered from swelling in his external genital area involving the scrotal area and the shaft of his penis. On admission, he had fever of 38.5C and tachycardia of 110bpm. Physical exam revealed edematous penis, scrotum and perineum with a tear near the external anal sphincter draining pus and suggesting abscess formation. Blood tests were significant for a leukocyte count of 16,000cells/μL. A Pelvic computed tomography showed soft tissue air and fluid collection within the perineum and scrotum. A surgical debridement and drainage of an abscess in the perineum was done immediately. Fluid cultures grew resistant E-coli and group C streptococcus for which he received a four-week course of antibiotic regimen. The patient had three months of wound care and recovered totally with no further complications. Results: Discussion: Since the historical concept of autointoxication of ancient Egypt, colon hydrotherapy has been practiced in all his basic forms. The belief in more health benefits provided by colonic irrigation, as an additional cleansing to personal external hygiene, made colon hydrotherapy more popular worldwide. In fact, there is no physiological basis for it but there could be a dissemination and absorption of toxins and bacteria into the systemic circulation during the procedure which increases the risk of infection. In our days, colonic irrigation has been done by nonmedical practitioners using a rectal tube with pumping in and out through that tube more than 20 gallons of warm water with or without other substances. In other words, colonic irrigation is not always safe, it has considerable potential for harm where serious complications such as direct traumatic perforation, bleeding, or infections have been reported as case reports in the literature. Conclusion: Colon hydrotherapy is a popular form of alternative medicine with no clear benefit but it may be associated with life-threatening complications sometimes. This case intended to increase the awareness of people about such serious complications with alternative therapies.