GASTRIC LAVAGE FOR GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING: PERFORMING

Course overview

Gastric lavage is performed in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding for the primary purpose of removing liquid blood and blood clots from the patient’s stomach, allowing for effective visualization of the stomach wall during endoscopy. The procedure involves placement of a wide-bore nasogastric (i.e., inserted through the nare) or orogastric tube (i.e., inserted through the mouth) and instillation of an irrigant via the tube into the stomach. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of gastric lavage for GI bleeding, including indications, desired outcomes, and a step-by-step procedure for performing gastric lavage. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.