What is correct way to do gastric lavage using NGT?

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone, I wanted to ask a quick question for those well versed (not that kind of versed) in all around areas, and I am little weak on NGT or other GI side. When you gastric lavage someone using NGT, what is the correct way to do it? I heard that you only suction out how much ever sterile water you put in and what not, but most of times I just see people infuse sterile water through NGT and just suction all out until contents are clear... no problem with that as long as it's correct way to do it. What is the correct way??? Thank you!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I can honestly say I have never done a gastric lavage so I dont know the answer to this.

[foragreatergood]

I can only remember doing this once. We didn't use sterile water ( stomach not sterile, right?) I think the most important thing would be verifying placement of the tube. We used to verify placement by air bolus heard by 2 RN's, but that has recently changed to chest xray or testing gastric secretions. We didn't actually flush - but let water run in by gravity via piston syringe and pulled it back out to confirm there was no blood in it. The patient was a frequent flyer, younger girl that said she vomited bright red blood that " overflowed the toilet".

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

I'm with that guy lol. Never done it nor have I seen one. Last I "heard" it was not best practice and rarely done anymore. But take that with a grain of salt. I haven't researched it myself.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Same here. I didn't know anyone was still doing this.

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

really? I thought it was pretty common thing done in ER since it is one of few ways to treat poison/drug od pts. surprising:bored:

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Gastric lavage? Fuggedaboutit! | The Poison Review

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

We only do it for patients who state they are vomiting blood. Place NG, examine initial return for blood, instill sterile water, remove with suction until clear (or, remove NG if it was clear in the first place). One of our docs insists on OG tubes, he says NGs can cause trauma and false positive with intial blood return.

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

thanks for that!

[foragreatergood]

Just wondering why sterile water? Do you place OG in patients that are not sedated? Seems like that would be tricky if they are awake!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Sterile water because it's handy and premeasured. And yes, OG tubes in awake patients. It's never pretty, but most actually tolerate it better than I expect they will.

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

Just wondering why sterile water? Do you place OG in patients that are not sedated? Seems like that would be tricky if they are awake!

haha yeah i was kind of wondering that too but that's what everyone uses instead of getting a bucket of tap water, which i get because it's better to pour 1L of ns bottle into basin instead of filling it up with tap water in front of them haha. for the record, i haven't put in OGT on a wake pt yet, NGT plenty but OGT were done on intubated peeps only so far :)