Gastric lavage is typically performed in which scenario?

• A. Routine for all overdoses
• B. When the overdose could be lethal and within one hour
• C. For every poisoning case regardless
• D. For poisonings only with iron overdose

Answer: (B)

Gastric lavage is used to remove recent ingested toxin from the stomach when it could make a life‑saving difference. The important point is timing and severity: it’s considered when the overdose could be lethal and the patient presents soon after ingestion, typically within about one hour, while significant toxin is still in the stomach and before substantial absorption has occurred. This is a procedure with real risks—aspiration, injury, and electrolyte disturbances—so it isn’t used routinely for every poisoning. When the ingestion is not recent, when the substance is unlikely to cause severe harm, or when the risks outweigh the potential benefit, lavage is not appropriate. Other measures, like activated charcoal, are often preferred in many poisonings, and some specific overdoses (such as iron) have their own targeted treatments.