Gastric lavage is best described as:

• A. Activated charcoal removes toxins
• B. Inducing vomiting with syrup of ipecac
• C. Insertion of an orogastric tube to remove toxins and irrigate the stomach
• D. Administration of laxatives

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is stomach decontamination by physically removing poison from the stomach. Gastric lavage, also known as stomach pumping, is done by passing a tube through the mouth into the stomach and using suction to remove the stomach contents, often followed by flushing with fluid to irrigate and dilute any remaining toxin. This approach aims to reduce toxin absorption when rapid removal is possible or necessary, and it’s done with the patient’s airway protected to prevent aspiration.

This fits the description because it specifically involves inserting an orogastric tube to remove toxins and flush the stomach. Other options describe different decontamination methods: activated charcoal binds toxins in the gut but doesn’t involve irrigating the stomach with a tube; inducing vomiting (emesis) with syrup of ipecac is outdated and risky; laxatives hasten intestinal transit rather than directly irrigating the stomach.