Gastric Lavage

Washing out stomach contents through a tube after ingestion of a toxic substance, most effective within 1 hour.

Gastric Lavage is recommended for patients with specific symptoms, abnormal test results, or as part of a planned treatment pathway. Your Emergency Medicine / Toxicology specialist will evaluate your suitability.

Gastric Lavage is typically performed with None or Sedation. The anaesthesia team will review your health history and allergies before the procedure.

The typical duration is noted in the quick stats above. This may vary depending on complexity and individual patient factors.

Risks include minor discomfort, bruising, rare infection, and in some cases incomplete results requiring repeat testing. Serious complications are uncommon but are discussed at consent.

Gastric Lavage has a documented success rate of Variable at accredited centres. Individual outcomes depend on the underlying condition, patient health, and care team expertise.