Gastrointestinal Decontamination of the Poisoned Patient : Pediatric Emergency Care

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CME Review Article

Gastrointestinal Decontamination of the Poisoned Patient

Greene, Spencer MD; Harris, Cindy MD; Singer, Jonathan MD

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Pediatric Emergency Care 24(3):p 176-186, March 2008. | DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0b013e318166a092

Abstract

Gastrointestinal decontamination has been a historically accepted modality in the emergency management of oral intoxicants. Theoretically, gastric and whole-bowel emptying procedures hinder absorption, remove toxic substances, prevent clinical deterioration, and hasten recovery. This article presents a current overview of gastrointestinal decontamination. It challenges the accepted precepts of gut decontamination and assesses the utility of syrup of ipecac-induced emesis, orogastric lavage, single-dose-activated charcoal, cathartics, and whole-bowel irrigation.

© 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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