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Abstract
To determine the percentage of liquid gastric contents experimentally removable by
available orogastric lavage systems, five healthy young volunteers were asked to ingest
1 mCi of liquid technicium-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Tc99m-DTPA) mixed with 50 ml tap water. Five minutes afterwards, the radionuclide was lavaged
using one of three different techniques—a single syringe method, a closed gravity
drainage system, and a closed double syringe method—while continuous radioisotope
camera images were taken. Control images, with no lavage performed, were also taken.
All of the orogastric lavage methods removed a mean of between 80% and 85% of the
stomach contents. The double syringe method was the quickest, while the single syringe
method was least tolerated. When compared with control, none of the lavage techniques
pushed gastric contents into the duodenum. Thus, in terms of amount of liquid gastric
contents removed, there was no one method that removed more than the others. Caution
should be exercised in assuming that 80–85% of a liquid gastric ingestion can be removed
by lavage in the uncontolled clinical setting. The use of any orogastric lavage for
ingestion evacuation should be undertaken knowing that it is a morbid procedure and
usually not necessary.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 5,
1996
Received in revised form:
January 22,
1996
Received:
October 13,
1995
Footnotes
☆Original Contributions is coordinated by John A. Marx, md, of Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Published by Elsevier Inc.
