Gastric lavage flushes the stomach and removes ingested substances through a gastric lavage tube. The procedure may be used to empty the stomach in preparation for endoscopic examination or after poisoning or a drug overdose, especially in patients who have central nervous system depression or an inadequate gag reflex. However, the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology recommends using gastric lavage for managing instances of poisoning only when the patient has ingested a life-threatening amount of the poison and lavage can occur within 60 minutes of ingestion.¹

Gastric lavage is typically done in the emergency department or on the intensive care unit by a doctor, gastroenterologist, or nurse; a wide-bore lavage tube is almost always inserted by a gastroenterologist.

This procedure is contraindicated after ingestion of a corrosive substance (such as lye, petroleum distillates, ammonia, alkalis, or mineral acids) because the lavage tube may perforate the already compromised esophagus.¹ Gastric lavage is also no longer recommended for routine management of hemorrhage. If it’s used for hemorrhage, the risks should be weighed against the benefits.

Correct lavage tube placement is essential for patient safety because accidental misplacement (in the lungs, for example) followed by lavage can be fatal.