gastric lavage

Gastric Lavage is a procedure done for poisoning. If a person has ingested something toxic, and It could be potentially lethal, than the patient may be given gastric lavage. For this procedure a tube is inserted down into the stomach either via nose or the mouth. After the tube is inserted air is pumped into the stomach ia syringe to make sure the tube is in the correct place. a stethoscope is placed over the stomach, and the Dr. or nurse observes weather the air is heard in the stomach or not. If it is, GREAT, if its not you are going to start questioning weather the tube is in the esophagus, or in the airways even. If its in the airways than the patient will not be able to speak. So, after propper tube placement has been varified than the tube is connected to an even longer tube that goes from the tube in the nose/mouth, to a bag containing water. This bag goes on an IV pole, and is allowed to drain through the tube and into the patient's stomach. At the end of the tube that comes out of the patient's nose/mouth there are two holes. One for the longer tube to go to the bag on the IV pole, and another hole on the same end to go to a bag that is sat on the floor. The bag on the floor is where that stuff drains back out. Because if it doesn't drain out, than you are just putting water down the tube, and its just going into the patient's stomach. The poison is still in there. So then the tube is drained, and the contents of the drainage bag are then emptied into a hopper which is a giant toilet where the bag or basins can be dumped and washed out. Another drainage bag is connected to the tube, and the procedure is repeated with bags of water connected, and drained in and out of the patinet's stomach until the contents of the patient's stomach appear clear. It depends on what the patient took, but sometims after this is finished activated charcoal is put down the NG tube. Its put into the tube via a syringe, and mixed with water because it needs some help getting it to go down or it may clump and clog up in the tube. This is where you hope the patient doesn't vomit. If they do, prepare to be covered in a black and VERY gooey mess. EEEK. :(