A lavage of the stomach, usually to remove a poisonous substance which has been absorbed.
(Bacteriologically) the aspiration of fasting stomach contents (by Ryle’s tube) to provide material for examination for Myco. tuberculosis, when sputum is not expectorated but may have been swallowed.
Washing out the stomach with sterile water or a salt-water solution to remove the contents, either harmful materials (poisons) or blood (as from a bleeding ulcer); sometimes called pumping out the stomach.
A method of cleaning out the stomach, sometimes used in the treatment of a swallowed poison. Lavage involves the passage of a lubricated tube via the mouth and oesophagus into the stomach. Patients are positioned on their side with the head lower than the feet. A small quantity of fluid (300 ml) is passed into the stomach and the contents then drained out (by gravity) by lowering the end of the tube. This is repeated until the solution is clear of particulate matter. The procedure should only be done by an experienced health professional.
Rinsing or irrigating the stomach to remove or dilute irritants or poisons or to cleanse the organ before or after surgery. Gastric lavage is used most often to manage patients who have ingested potentially toxic medications, street drugs, hydrocarbons, or other noncorrosive poisons. Its use in overdose is controversial. Effectiveness depends on absorption speed and the time between ingestion and removal. It has not been shown to improve clinical outcomes, except perhaps in those instances in which the patient presents for care within an hour of a toxic ingestion and the patient has consumed a life-threatening amount of poison. The procedure has some risks: the trachea, instead of the stomach, may be intubated; gastric contents may be aspirated; and the mouth, teeth, pharynx, or esophagus may be injured. “Stomach pumping” is the colloquial term for gastric lavage.
Referred to as a gastric aspiration, this technique involves the utilization of a pliable tube that is delicately inserted via the nasal passage, traversing the throat, and reaching the depths of the stomach. The objective is to extract the contents of the gastric chamber by means of suction. Moreover, the inner lining of the stomach undergoes a thorough lavage using a solution composed of saline, a diluted aqueous solution of salt.
Flushing the stomach with water, typically to eliminate toxins. The individual is positioned on their side, with the head angled lower than the stomach. A lubricated, pliable tube is inserted through the esophagus into the stomach. This tube’s other end is connected to a funnel. Water is introduced through the tube, filling the stomach, and then, by lowering the funnel, the contents of the stomach are drained into a container. This process is continued until the drained water appears clear.
Lavage is avoided if a caustic substance has been ingested due to the potential danger of the tube causing damage to the tissues of the esophagus or stomach.