Gastric lavage would be questioned for which clinical indicator?

Gastric lavage would be questioned for which clinical indicator?

• A. Increased serum bicarbonate level
• B. Decreased serum bicarbonate level
• C. Elevated creatinine
• D. Low potassium

Answer: (A)

Gastric lavage is considered only in specific poisoning scenarios where removing stomach contents early can reduce absorption, but it carries risks and isn’t routinely done for every ingestion. When you see an increased serum bicarbonate level, that points to metabolic alkalosis, which often results from ingestion of alkaline substances. Alkaline ingestions involve caustic bases that can injure the stomach lining, and performing lavage in this context can worsen tissue damage or be ineffective in changing the overall outcome. Because of these risks and the questionable benefit in base ingestions, this situation is the one where the use of gastric lavage would be questioned. Decreased bicarbonate would point toward acidosis, which doesn’t specifically signal a base ingestion or the same concern about mucosal causticity. Elevated creatinine reflects kidney function, not the stomach’s contents, and low potassium is an electrolyte issue that doesn’t on its own indicate whether lavage is appropriate.

Gastric lavage is considered only in specific poisoning scenarios where removing stomach contents early can reduce absorption, but it carries risks and isn’t routinely done for every ingestion. When you see an increased serum bicarbonate level, that points to metabolic alkalosis, which often results from ingestion of alkaline substances. Alkaline ingestions involve caustic bases that can injure the stomach lining, and performing lavage in this context can worsen tissue damage or be ineffective in changing the overall outcome. Because of these risks and the questionable benefit in base ingestions, this situation is the one where the use of gastric lavage would be questioned.

Decreased bicarbonate would point toward acidosis, which doesn’t specifically signal a base ingestion or the same concern about mucosal causticity. Elevated creatinine reflects kidney function, not the stomach’s contents, and low potassium is an electrolyte issue that doesn’t on its own indicate whether lavage is appropriate.