. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2007 Aug 10.

Published in final edited form as: Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45(2):136–143. doi: 10.1080/15563650601006009

Table 3.

Complications of the lavage.

Patient	Complications
1	Died during procedure. Noted by attendants not to be moving. Doctors unable to resuscitate. Probable asystolic cardiac arrest.
2	Aspirated. Started on IV antibiotics by ward staff. Exhausted at end of procedure
3	Aspirated. Started on IV antibiotics by ward staff. GCS 9/15 at end of procedure
4	None
5	Aspirated. Started on IV antibiotics by ward staff.
6	ECG showed 2^nd degree AV block (mobitz type II) before procedure. Deteriorated during and after procedure. Transferred to ICU where she died within 12 hours.
7	Gagged during insertion of lavage tube; vomited 3 litres of fluid used for forced emesis. Aspirated on this fluid. Started on IV antibiotics by ward staff.
8	Had vomited and aspirated before admission. Gastric lavage was started before ET tube was passed successfully. Transferred to ICU.
9	Initially consented to forced emesis but after drinking 500ml of water, refused to continue. Thereupon given lavage against wishes. Patient exhausted by the procedure. GCS dropped to 3/15 directly afterwards, lost control of airway, and died within 30 minutes.
10	None
11	None. Transferred to ICU because of poisoning.
12	None
13	Forced herself upright during procedure. Vomited and aspirated. Started on IV antibiotics by ward staff.
14	Aspirated. Started on IV antibiotics by ward staff.