Orogastric Lavage: A Lifesaving Procedure Now Forgotten
Orogastric Lavage for Fatal Poisoning
Vol. 9 No. 2 : 2014 (150-154)
Abstract
Orogastric lavage has been performed since 200 years ago for intoxicated patients. Due to the risk that outweighs benefits it has fallen out of favour for the last decade. A teenage girl presented to Emergency Department with history of ingestion of a bottle of pesticide within the time frame before gastric emptying. The girl was resuscitated, intubated and orogastric lavage was performed. Fifty cc of the toxic substance was siphoned and antidote of the toxin was administered. She was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, subsequently recovered and discharge five days later. Definitive airway management, proper technique, correct selection of patients and adequate monitoring are paramount to the success of orogastric lavage.
Keywords :
gastric emptying,
intubation,
Orogastric lavage,
toxin,
Correspondance Address
Dr. Nik Azlan Nik Muhamad, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-91455703 Fax: 03-91456577 Email: nikazlanmuhamad@hotmail.com
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