Position statement: gastric lavage. American Academy of Clinical Toxicology; European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists

In preparing this Position Statement, all relevant scientific literature was identified and reviewed critically by acknowledged experts using agreed criteria. Well-conducted clinical and experimental studies were given precedence over anecdotal case reports and abstracts were not usually considered. A draft Position Statement was then produced and subjected to detailed peer review by an international group of clinical toxicologists chosen by the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. The Position Statement went through multiple drafts before being approved by the boards of the two societies and being endorsed by other societies. The Position Statement includes a summary statement for ease of use and is supported by detailed documentation which describes the scientific evidence on which the Statement is based. Gastric lavage should not be employed routinely in the management of poisoned patients. In experimental studies, the amount of marker removed by gastric lavage was highly variable and diminished with time. There is no certain evidence that its use improves clinical outcome and it may cause significant morbidity. Gastric lavage should not be considered unless a patient has ingested a potentially life-threatening amount of a poison and the procedure can be undertaken within 60 minutes of ingestion. Even then, clinical benefit has not been confirmed in controlled studies. Unless a patient is intubated, gastric lavage is contraindicated if airway protective reflexes are lost. It is also contraindicated if a hydrocarbon with high aspiration potential or corrosive substance has been ingested.

Position paper: gastric lavage

Gastric lavage should not be employed routinely, if ever, in the management of poisoned patients. In experimental studies, the amount of marker removed by gastric lavage was highly variable and diminished with time. The results of clinical outcome studies in overdose patients are weighed heavily on the side of showing a lack of beneficial effect. Serious risks of the procedure include hypoxia, dysrhythmias, laryngospasm, perforation of the GI tract or pharynx, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, and aspiration pneumonitis. Contraindications include loss of protective airway reflexes (unless the patient is first intubated tracheally), ingestion of a strong acid or alkali, ingestion of a hydrocarbon with a high aspiration potential, or risk of GI hemorrhage due to an underlying medical or surgical condition. A review of the 1997 Gastric Lavage Position Statement revealed no new evidence that would require a revision of the conclusions of the Statement.

Efficacy of ipecac-induced emesis, orogastric lavage, and activated charcoal for acute drug overdose

The efficacy of ipecac-induced emesis, large-bore orogastric lavage, and activated charcoal as gastrointestinal decontamination procedures after acute drug overdose is unknown. Using an ampicillin overdose model, these three procedures were compared with one another and to a control ingestion in ten human volunteers. Serial serum ampicillin levels were used to compute the areas under the concentration vs time curves (AUC) for each study. The reductions of ampicillin absorption compared to control were as follows: orogastric lavage 32% (NS), ipecac-induced emesis 38% (P less than .01), and activated charcoal 57% (P less than .01). This model examines each intervention in a mutually exclusive fashion. It supports activated charcoal administration as the primary gastrointestinal decontamination procedure after acute drug overdose.

Sputum induction for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in infants and young children in an urban setting in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Bacteriological confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis is difficult in infants and young children. In adults and older children, sputum induction has been successfully used; this technique has not been tested in younger children.

AIMS

To investigate whether sputum induction can be successfully performed in infants and young children and to determine the utility of induced sputum compared to gastric lavage (GL) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV infected and uninfected children.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

149 children (median age 9 months) admitted to hospital with acute pneumonia who were known to be HIV infected, suspected to have HIV infection, or required intensive care unit support. Sputum induction was performed on enrollment. Early morning GL was performed after a minimum four hour fast. Induced sputum and stomach contents were stained for acid fast bacilli and cultured for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

RESULTS

Sputum induction was successfully performed in 142 of 149 children. M tuberculosis, cultured in 16 children, grew from induced sputum in 15. GL, performed in 142 children, was positive in nine; in eight of these M tuberculosis also grew from induced sputum. The difference between yields from induced sputum compared to GL was 4.3% (p = 0.08). M tuberculosis was cultured in 10 of 100 HIV infected children compared to six of 42 HIV uninfected children (p = 0.46).

CONCLUSION

Sputum induction can be safely and effectively performed in infants and young children. Induced sputum provides a satisfactory and more convenient specimen for bacteriological confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV infected and uninfected children.

The role of activated charcoal and gastric emptying in gastrointestinal decontamination: a state-of-the-art review

Gastrointestinal decontamination has been practiced for hundreds of years; however, only in the past few years have data emerged that demonstrate a clinical benefit in some patients. Because most potentially toxic ingestions involve agents that are not toxic in the quantity consumed, the exact circumstances in which decontamination is beneficial and which methods are most beneficial in those circumstances remain important topics of research. Maximum benefit from decontamination is expected in patients who present soon after the ingestion. Unfortunately, many overdose patients present at least 2 hours after taking a medication, when most of the toxin has been absorbed or has moved well into the intestine, beyond the expected reach of gastrointestinal decontamination. Decontamination probably does not contribute to the outcome of many such patients, especially those without symptoms. However, if absorption has been delayed or gastrointestinal motility has been slowed, activated charcoal may reduce the final amount absorbed. The use of activated charcoal in these cases may be beneficial and is associated with few complications. Therefore, administration of activated charcoal is recommended as soon as possible after emergency department presentation, unless the agent and quantity are known to be nontoxic, the agent is known not to adsorb to activated charcoal, or the delay has been so long that absorption is probably complete. The use of gastric emptying in addition to activated charcoal has generated intense debate. Several large comparative studies have failed to demonstrate a benefit of gastric emptying before activated charcoal. Because complications of such 2-step decontamination include a higher rate of intubation, aspiration, and ICU admission, gastric emptying in addition to activated charcoal cannot be considered the routine approach to patients. However, there are several infrequent circumstances in which the data are inadequate to accurately assess the potential benefit of gastric emptying in addition to activated charcoal: symptomatic patients presenting in the first hour after ingestion, symptomatic patients who have ingested agents that slow gastrointestinal motility, patients taking sustained release medications, and those taking massive or life-threatening amounts of medication. These circumstances represent only a small subset of ingestions. In the absence of convincing data about benefit or lack of benefit of gastric emptying for these patients, individual physicians must act on a personal valuation: Is it better to use a treatment that might have some benefit but definitely has some risk or not to use a treatment that has any risk unless there is proven benefit?

Prospective, randomized, controlled comparison of the use of polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution in four-liter versus two-liter volumes and pretreatment with either magnesium citrate or bisacodyl for colonoscopy preparation

BACKGROUND

Laxative pretreatment decreases the volume of polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS) required for colonoscopy without compromising preparation quality. We compared the use of 4 L of PEG-ELS with the use of 2 L plus a laxative.

METHODS

One hundred fifty consecutive patients (148 men) undergoing outpatient colonoscopy were randomly selected for one of three preparations (Prep 1: 4 L PEG-ELS; Prep 2: 2 L PEG-ELS plus 296 mL magnesium citrate 1 hour prior; Prep 3: 2 L PEG-ELS plus bisacodyl 20 mg). Endoscopists were blinded as to the type of preparation.

RESULTS

Colonoscopy times were 37, 33, and 29.5 minutes (p = 0.02). Satisfaction scores (0 to 11) during preparation were 2.75, 1.84, and 2.54 (p = 0.05). Preparation times were 519, 397, and 379 minutes (p < 0.001). Preparation satisfaction scores (0 to 10) were 6.2, 7.7, and 7.4 (p < 0.001). Endoscopists' scores of preparation quality (1 to 10) were 7.3, 7.8, and 8.1 (p = 0.03). Volumes of liquid stool aspirated were 181, 103, and 90 mL (p < 0.001). Twenty-four patients receiving Prep 2 and 16 receiving Prep 3 had previous colonoscopy using full volume PEG-ELS; 88% who received Prep 2 and 56% who received Prep 3 preferred the newer preparation (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Two liters of PEG-ELS plus laxative improved preparation quality and patient satisfaction and reduced preparation time. Magnesium citrate pretreatment had fewer symptoms and was preferred to bisacodyl. PEG-ELS in 2 L quantities could reduce costs, and consideration should be given to making it available commercially.

Systematic review: Coca-Cola can effectively dissolve gastric phytobezoars as a first-line treatment

BACKGROUND

Gastric phytobezoars represent the most common bezoars in patients with poor gastric motility. A variety of dissolution therapies and endoscopic fragmentation techniques have been evaluated as conservative treatment so as to avoid surgery.

AIM

To investigate the effectiveness of Coca-Cola for gastric phytobezoars dissolution.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search to identify publications on gastric phytobezoars to assess the efficacy of Coca-Cola as a dissolution therapy. Diospyrobezoars, formed after persimmon ingestion, are a distinct type of phytobezoars characterized by their hard consistency. Thus, these two subgroups of bezoars were compared in terms of successful dissolution.

RESULTS

Over a 10-year period (2002-2012), 24 papers including 46 patients have been published. In 91.3% of the cases, phytobezoar resolution with Coca-Cola administration was successful, either as a single treatment (50%) or combined with further endoscopic techniques, whereas only 4 patients underwent surgery. Phytobezoars were more likely to dissolve after initial attempt with Coca-Cola compared with diospyrobezoars (60.6% vs. 23%, P = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Coca-Cola alone is effective in gastric phytobezoar dissolution in half of the cases and, combined with additional endoscopic methods, is successful in more than 90% of them.

Gastric phytobezoars may be treated by nasogastric Coca-Cola lavage

Large gastric phytobezoars may occur in patients with gastric dysmotility disorders. Treatment options include dissolution with enzymes, endoscopic fragmentation with removal or aspiration, and surgery. We report our experience with nasogastric cola lavage therapy. Over an 8-year period, five consecutive patients were referred to our unit for endoscopic treatment of large gastric phytobezoars. They included one patient with lobectomy for lung cancer and four patients with diabetic gastroparesis. An initial attempt of endoscopic fragmentation and removal was unsuccessful. Patients were treated with 3 l of Coca-Cola nasogastric lavage over 12 h. Nasogastric lavage was very well tolerated by the patients. Complete phytobezoar dissolution was achieved in one session in all cases. There were no procedure-related complications. The dissolution of large gastric phytobezoars with cola nasogastric lavage is a safe, rapid and effective method. Patients may be treated in the medical ward, avoiding therapeutic endoscopy or surgery.

Heat stroke : a review of cooling methods

The prognosis of heat stroke in patients is directly related to the degree of hyperthermia and its duration. Therefore, the most important feature in the treatment of heat stroke is rapid cooling. Several cooling methods have been presented in the literature including immersion in water at different temperatures, evaporative cooling, ice pack application, pharmacological treatment and invasive techniques. This article describes the various cooling techniques in terms of efficacy, availability, adverse effects and mortality rate. Data suggest that cooling should be initiated immediately at time of collapse and should be based on feasible field measures including ice or tepid water (1-16 degrees C), which are readily available. In the emergency department, management should be matched to the patient's age and medical background and include immersion in ice water (1-5 degrees C) or evaporative cooling.

A prospective outcome study of patients with clot in an ulcer and the effect of irrigation

BACKGROUND

The proper management of patients with clots in an ulcer base has not been clearly defined by prospective studies. Variable prevalence and rebleeding rates may be explained by differing degrees of vigor used to clear the clot, as removal may reveal other stigmata. We prospectively assessed the natural histories of patients with clots after vigorous irrigation, employing a management strategy of endoscopic therapy for patients with high-risk stigmata and observation of those with clots resistant to washing or low-risk findings.

METHODS

Forty-six patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding found to have a clot in an ulcer had irrigation with a 3.2 mm bipolar probe for up to 5 minutes. Stigmata after washing were recorded; endoscopic therapy was given for active bleeding that persisted > or = 5 min or for nonbleeding visible vessels. Patients were observed in the hospital for > or = 3 days.

RESULTS

Findings revealed after irrigation were adherent clot, 26 (57%); clean base, 1 (2%); flat spot, 5 (11%); nonbleeding visible vessel, 7 (13%); oozing, 6 (13%); and spurting, 1 (2%). Two of the 26 (8%) with adherent clots after washing rebled; endoscopic therapy resulted in no further bleeding. One of the 14 (7%) with active bleeding or visible vessels treated with hemostatic therapy rebled; repeat endoscopic therapy resulted in no further bleeding. No deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Irrigation appears to be useful in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding who have ulcers with clots. The endoscopic findings present after washing can be used to dictate the appropriate management at initial endoscopy. Application of hemostatic therapy in patients with active bleeding or nonbleeding visible vessels and observation of patients with other stigmata, including clots resistant to washing, resulted in an excellent outcome.

Erythromycin infusion prior to endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial

BACKGROUND/AIM

Presence of clots in the stomach makes emergency endoscopy difficult in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We investigated whether the association of erythromycin infusion to gastric lavage could improve stomach cleansing before endoscopy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal bleeding were randomly assigned to receive either gastric lavage plus intravenous erythromycin (250 mg) or gastric lavage plus placebo before endoscopy in a double-blind study. The primary end point was the efficacy of intravenous erythromycin to improve stomach cleansing before endoscopy, assessed by both subjective and objective criteria.

RESULTS

Characteristics of patients at admission were similar in both groups. Sixty-six patients had portal hypertension. The gastric mucosa was entirely visualized by the endoscopist in 65% of patients in the erythromycin group, versus 44% in the placebo group (p<0.05). The quality of examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, assessed by using a 10-cm visual analog scale, was better in the erythromycin group (4.2+/-2 vs. 3.3+/-2.2, p<0.05). Clots were found in the stomach in 30% of patients in the erythromycin group, versus 52% in the placebo group (p<0.05). However, ability to identify the source of bleeding, mean duration of endoscopy, and need for a second-look endoscopy, did not differ between the two groups. Similar results were observed in the subgroup of cirrhotic patients. Erythromycin was well tolerated by all patients.

CONCLUSION

Intravenous erythromycin before endoscopy improves stomach cleansing and quality of endoscopic examination in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, but the clinical benefit is limited.

Comparison of three methods of gut decontamination in tricyclic antidepressant overdose

The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the effectiveness of three different gut decontamination methods in 51 patients presenting to an emergency department with tricyclic antidepressant overdose. Patients were randomized to three treatments; Group 1 received activated charcoal, Group 2 received saline lavage followed by activated charcoal, and Group 3 received activated charcoal followed by saline lavage followed by activated charcoal. Baseline characteristics of the three groups did not differ, including Glasgow Coma Scores, age, and mean tricyclic antidepressant levels. Average length of stay in admitted patients was 93.3 hours in Group 1, 107.2 hours in Group 2, and 66.7 hours in Group 3. Of those admitted to an ICU, average ICU time was 66.9 hours in Group 1, 54.1 hours in Group 2, and 34.4 hours in Group 3. Average duration of sinus tachycardia was 20.8 hours in Group 1, 30.8 hours in Group 2, and 32.2 hours in Group 3. Of those requiring mechanical ventilation, average ventilator time was 43.4 hours in Group 1, 24.1 hours in Group 2, and 17.8 hours in Group 3. No statistically significant difference could be shown with respect to the clinical endpoints noted. There were no deaths in any of the groups. All three methods of gut decontamination had similar clinical outcomes.

Clinical effects and management of eucalyptus oil ingestion in infants and young children

OBJECTIVE

To determine the symptoms and signs of eucalyptus oil poisoning in infants and young children, to estimate the toxic dose and to recommend management strategies.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective analysis of case histories of children admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, between 1 January 1981 and 31 December 1992 with a diagnosis of eucalyptus oil poisoning.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Demographic data, circumstances of ingestion, doses, clinical effects, management, complications and duration of hospital stay.

RESULTS

109 children (mean age, 23.5 months; range, 0.5-107) were admitted; clinical effects were observed in 59%. Thirty-one (28%) had depression of conscious state; 27 were drowsy, three were unconscious after ingesting known or estimated volumes of between 5 mL and 10 mL, and one was unconscious with hypoventilation after ingesting an estimated 75 mL. Vomiting occurred in 37%, ataxia in 15% and pulmonary disease in 11%. No treatment was given for 12%. Ipecac or oral activated charcoal was given for 21%, nasogastric charcoal for 57%, and gastric lavage without anaesthesia for 4% and under anaesthesia for 6%. All patients recovered. Hazardous treatment and overtreatment were common. For 105 children, mean hospital stay was 22 hours (range, 4-72 h) and for 13 patients mean intensive care unit stay was 18 hours (range, 4-29 h). In 27 patients who ingested known doses of eucalyptus oil, 10 had nil effects after a mean of 1.7 mL, 11 had minor poisoning after a mean of 2.0 mL, five had moderate poisoning after a mean of 2.5 mL and one had major poisoning after 7.5 mL (P = 0.0198).

CONCLUSIONS

Ingestion of eucalyptus oil caused significant morbidity in infants and young children. Significant depression of conscious state should be anticipated after ingestion of 5 mL or more of 100% oil. Minor depression of consciousness may occur after 2-3 mL. Airway protection should precede gastric lavage.

Effect of physostigmine and gastric lavage in a Datura stramonium-induced anticholinergic poisoning epidemic

This study examines the impact of the administration of physostigmine and of nasogastric evacuation of Jimsonweed seeds on intensive-care unit (ICU) use and the length of stay in the hospital after Jimsonweed poisoning. Clinical data for this retrospective study were gathered from records of consecutive patients treated for Jimsonweed poisoning from September to November 1997. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and Student t-test were used to analyze important clinical and sociodemographic variables. There were 17 victims of the Jimsonweed ingestion epidemic, all of whom presented with an anticholinergic toxidrome 3 to 9 hours after ingestion. Reported quantities of seed ingestion ranged from a low of 7 seeds to as high as 200 seeds. Altered mentation, manifested by combative behavior, necessitated admission of 13 patients to the ICU. The administration of physostigmine did not reduce admissions to the ICU (P = 0.54) or reduce length of stay in the hospital (P = 0.45) compared with the use of benzodiazepines alone. Nasogastric lavage was performed in 14 (82%) and seeds were recovered in 8 (57%) of those lavaged. The successful removal of Jimsonweed seeds did not decrease ICU use rates (P = 0.68) or shorten length of stay in the hospital compared with not recovering seeds (P = 0.85). The use of physostigmine and the successful nasogastric lavage of Jimsonweed seeds did not result in decreased intensive-care use or shorter length of stay in the hospital for Jimsonweed-induced anticholinergic toxicity.

Evaluation of gastric emptying using radionuclides: gastric lavage versus ipecac-induced emesis

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To compare the efficacy of gastric lavage and ipecac-induced emesis by using a radionuclide marker in a simulated overdose and to determine the amount of material recoverable after lavage fluid appears clear.

DESIGN

Case-control, prospective cross-over study.

SETTING

Nuclear medicine department of Valley Medical Center, Fresno, California.

TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS

Fourteen male and five nonpregnant female adult volunteers with no pre-existing gastrointestinal disease and no medication use.

INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

In phase 1, each volunteer ingested 30 capsules labeled with a measured amount of Tc99m with 75 mL H2O followed in five minutes by ipecac-induced emesis. In phase 2, two to four weeks later, each subject was lavaged after ingesting 30 labeled capsules. After lavage appeared clear, a 1,000-mL supplemental lavage was done and analyzed separately. All emesis or gastric lavage fluid was collected and measured for tracer activity.

RESULTS

All subjects in the ipecac group vomited with an average time from ipecac to emesis of 19 minutes. Two subjects withdrew from the study, refusing to complete lavage due to discomfort. Based on retrieved material, ipecac-induced emesis returned significantly more tracer (mean +/- SD, 54.1 +/- 21.3%) than lavage until clear (mean +/- SD, 30.3 +/- 17.4%) (P = .0021). Supplemental lavage returned 12.9% of the total recovered marker (SD, 11.6%). The total of initial and supplemental returns from lavage was 35.5% (SD, 21.0%). This return was significantly less than that returned by ipecac-induced emesis (P = .016).

CONCLUSION

In this study, ipecac-induced emesis was significantly more effective than gastric lavage in emptying the stomach after simulated overdose. Significant amounts of ingested material are recoverable in gastric lavage return after it appears clear.

A risk assessment based approach to the management of acute poisoning

Early assessment and management of poisoning constitutes a core emergency medicine competency. Medical and psychiatric emergencies coexist; the acute poisoning is a dynamic medical illness that represents an acute exacerbation of a chronic underlying psychosocial disorder. The emergency physician must use an approach that ensures early decisions address potentially time critical interventions, while allowing management to be tailored to the individual patient's needs in that particular medical setting. This article outlines a rationale approach to the management of the poisoned patient that emphasises the importance of early risk assessment. Ideally, this approach should be used in the setting of a health system designed to optimise the medical and psychosocial care of the poisoned patient.

Recovery of cyclic antidepressants with gastric lavage

The role of lavage fluid volume in recovery of cyclic antidepressant with gastric lavage was determined in 13 patients treated for moderate to severe cyclic antidepressant intoxication. An orogastric tube was placed, gastric contents aspirated, and gastric lavage performed with 60 to 180 mL aliquots of tap water or 0.9% NaCl for irrigation. A volume of 12.8 +/- 4.4 liters of lavage fluid was instilled, and 97.6 +/- 6.9% of this volume was recovered. The recovered aspirate and lavage fluid were inspected for the presence of particulate matter and saved in 4 to 5 liter collections. Determination of cyclic antidepressant and metabolite concentrations was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the amount of cyclic antidepressant recovered was calculated. The mean total amount recovered was 110 mg and ranged from 2.4 mg to 342 mg. Of the total amount recovered, 88% +/- 13% was recovered in the first 4 to 5 liters of lavage fluid. An estimate of the dose ingested was available in 7 patients, with 8.7% (0.4% to 21.7%) of the estimated dose recovered by lavage. There were no cases of significant drug recovery in clear lavage fluid. We conclude that if gastric lavage is undertaken in cyclic antidepressant intoxications, it should utilize 5 liters initially and then continue only if particulate matter is seen.

A randomized controlled trial of gastric lavage prior to endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding

GOALS

We hypothesized that large volume gastric lavage prior to endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding would improve the quality of endoscopic examination.

BACKGROUND

Blood retained in the stomach can impair visualization during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and a retained gastric fundic pool during endoscopy may have worse outcomes than patients without a retained fundic pool. No trials to date have evaluated if large volume gastric lavage prior to endoscopy improves visualization during acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

STUDY METHODS

Patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding were randomized to esophagogastroduodenoscopy alone or large volume tap water gastric lavage prior to esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The quality of endoscopic visualization was assessed using a 5-point scale. Clinical outcomes were compared for lavaged and nonlavaged patients.

RESULTS

A total of 39 patients were randomized. In 1 patient, lavage was unsuccessful. The quality of visualization was not significantly different between groups for the esophagus, gastric antrum, or duodenum but was significantly better for the gastric fundus for patients randomized to lavage (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between groups for ability to define a bleeding source, achieve hemostasis, recurrent bleeding, need for repeat endoscopy, and length of stay or death. There were no complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Large volume gastric lavage prior to esophagogastroduodenoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is safe and provides better visualization of the gastric fundus.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pediatric idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH).

METHODS

Pediatric IPH cases that were diagnosed at West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University between 1996 and 2017 were reviewed. Follow-up data from 34 patients were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients were included (42 boys and 65 girls). The median age was 6 years at diagnosis. The main manifestations of the patients were as follows: anemia (n = 100, 93.45%), cough (n = 68, 63.55%), hemoptysis (n = 61, 57%), fever (n = 23, 21.5%), and dyspnea (n = 23, 21.5%). There were relatively few pulmonary signs. The positive rates of hemosiderin-laden macrophages in sputum, gastric lavage fluid, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were 91.66%, 98.21%, and 100%, respectively. Seventy-nine patients were misdiagnosed. A total of 105 patients were initially treated with glucocorticoids, among whom 102 survived and three died. Among the followed up patients, two died and 32 survived, among whom 10 presented with recurrent episodes.

CONCLUSIONS

The classic triad of pediatric IPH is not always present. The rates of misdiagnosis and recurrence of IPH are high. Early recognition and adequate immunosuppressive therapy are imperative for improving prognosis of IPH.

Gastrointestinal decontamination for acute poisoning

Gastric decontamination remains an important element in the therapy of pediatric poisoning; however, several issues remain unresolved. Additional studies, particularly in the clinical setting, are necessary to establish optimal therapeutic recommendations. Based on the data presented in this review, the following general recommendations can be made for gastric decontamination in children: If it is necessary to remove an ingested toxin, ipecac syrup is the preferred method if contraindications to its use are not present. The dose should be 30 ml in children older than 1 year of age and 10 ml in children 6 to 12 months of age. Pending further studies, the use of emetics in children younger than 6 months of age cannot be generally recommended, particularly in the home setting. Gastric lavage should be considered to be of very limited use in pediatric patients. Lavage using small nasogastric tubes, except under special circumstances, is nonproductive and cannot be advocated. If it must be used, a large-bore orogastric hose should be used. Administration of activated charcoal prior to lavage should be considered. In situations in which prompt induction of emesis is not possible or contraindications to emesis exist, activated charcoal followed by, or mixed with, a cathartic (preferably sorbitol) should be used as an alternative to removal of gastric contents. Patients with significant symptoms from ingestion requiring hospitalization should receive repeat doses of charcoal and cathartic until symptoms resolve. Activated charcoal should be given in conjunction with other appropriate therapies. Although the data to substantiate this recommendation are limited, particularly in pediatric patients, it is a benign therapy that holds promise of increasing drug elimination.

Gastric emptying. Risk versus benefit in the treatment of acute poisoning

This review examines the various clinical options used to elicit gastric emptying, viz. drug-induced emesis, mechanical pharyngeal stimulation, gastric lavage, and catharsis. Apomorphine and syrup of ipecac are the 2 drugs most frequently used for induction of emesis. Both agents act centrally and, in addition, syrup of ipecac has a peripheral action. Toxins ingested or foods previously eaten may inhibit or enhance emetic action by interfering with mediating and conducting mechanisms. Studies indicate that both syrup of ipecac and apomorphine are similarly effective in inducing emesis; however, apomorphine has a shorter reaction time compared with syrup of ipecac. There are more risks involved with the use of apomorphine, since it causes central nervous system and respiratory depression. Syrup of ipecac has been shown to be relatively safe when used in its recommended dosage for emesis. However, several toxicities have been reported with the use of the fluid extract of ipecac. Emesis is contraindicated in patients who are obtunded or comatose, and in patients who have ingested stimulants, some hydrocarbons, or corrosives. Mechanical pharyngeal stimulation is a simple method of inducing emesis; however, it is often unsuccessful and rarely recovers a significant portion of the gastric contents. Gastric lavage is a procedure which has been relied upon for over a century. Its effectiveness is dependent on the nature, form, and dosage of the poison, latency between time of ingestion and lavage, and technique. In clinical experiments studying gastric lavage, it has been noted that the procedure is most beneficial 1 to 2 hours postingestion for the majority of poison ingestions. Lavage also provides an excellent route for activated charcoal and selected antidotes. Gastric lavage may pose several risks to the patient, including obstruction and contamination of the airways and oesophageal damage. Contraindications for gastric lavage are similar to those for emesis except that it may be safer to use in obtunded, comatose, or uncooperative patients. Cathartics used during initial poisoning therapy are usually the saline cathartics. They elicit an osmotic reaction in the small intestine which results in increased intraluminal fluid bulk, hyperperistalsis, and subsequent propulsion of contents. Cathartics have also been shown to stimulate the secretion of cholecystokinin, which is thought to have similar effects on the intestine. Cathartics have not been shown to significantly enhance drug elimination from the gastrointestinal tract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The Management of Tricyclic Antidepressant Poisoning

Although there have been descriptive, uncontrolled clinical reports of removal of tablet debris by gastric lavage, there have been no clinical studies that have demonstrated that this has any impact on outcome in patients with tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning. There is also the possibility that lavage may increase drug absorption by pushing tablets into the small intestine. Furthermore, gastric lavage in patients with TCA poisoning may induce hypoxia and a tachycardia potentially increasing the risk of severe complications such as arrhythmias and convulsions. In view of the paucity of evidence that gastric lavage removes a significant amount of drug and the risk of complications associated with the procedure, the routine use of gastric lavage in the management of patients with TCA poisoning is not appropriate. Volunteer studies have shown generally that activated charcoal is more likely to reduce drug absorption if it is administered within 1 hour of drug ingestion. In the one volunteer study that looked at later administration of activated charcoal, there was a 37% decrease in plasma concentration associated with administration of activated charcoal at 2 hours post-ingestion. There have been no clinical studies that enable an estimate of the effect of activated charcoal administration on outcome in the management of patients with TCA poisoning. Volunteer studies have shown that multiple-dose activated charcoal increases the elimination of therapeutic doses of amitriptyline and nortriptyline, but not of doxepin or imipramine; however, these studies cannot be directly extrapolated to the management of patients with TCA poisoning. There have been no well designed controlled studies that have assessed the impact of multiple-dose activated charcoal in the management of patients with TCA poisoning. Because of the large volume of distribution of TCAs, it would not be expected that their elimination would be significantly increased by multiple-dose activated charcoal.Haemoperfusion, haemodialysis and the combination of these procedures do not result in significant removal of TCAs and are not recommended in the management of patients with TCA poisoning.

Comparison of Bronchoscopy and Gastric Washings in the Investigation of Smear-Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis

This study compares the utility of gastric washings (GWs) and bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The aim of the study was to identify which investigation or combination of investigations provided the greatest yield of positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures of samples from patients with smear-negative pulmonary TB. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 180 patients with smear-negative pulmonary TB. The positive culture yield for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (62 [34%] of 180 patients) was significantly greater than that for specimens from 3 GWs (32 [21%] of 149 patients) (P=.02). Combining GW and bronchoscopy increased the positive culture yield: bronchoscopy combined with 2 GWs resulted in a positive culture rate of 38%. Bronchoscopy is superior to GW in the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary TB; however, the combination of bronchoscopy and 2 GWs should be regarded as optimal for the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary TB.