What is gastric lavage of the gastro intestinal system
Gastric lavage is a medical procedure in which the stomach is washed or flushed out with water or other solutions. It involves inserting a tube through the nose or mouth and down into the stomach, and then aspirating or emptying the stomach contents, followed by irrigation and suction of the stomach with the desired solution.
Gastric lavage is typically used in emergency situations, such as in cases of drug overdose, poisoning, or ingestion of harmful substances. It aims to remove toxins or foreign substances from the stomach before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream and cause further harm to the body.
The procedure may also be done to obtain gastric fluid samples for diagnostic purposes or to treat certain conditions such as gastrointestinal bleeding.
Gastric lavage should only be performed by trained healthcare professionals in a medical setting, as it carries certain risks and should be done with caution. It is not a commonly used procedure and its use has decreased in recent years with the development of alternative treatments and guidelines recommending against its routine use.