Changes in Arterial Oxygen Tension after Gastric Lavage for Drug Overdose

Abstract
1 Changes in arterial oxygen tension after gastric lavage were investigated in a prospective study of 55 patients admitted for drug overdose. 2 A significantly greater decrease was observed in smokers compared to non-smokers. 3 A correlation was found between the tricyclic antidepressant serum level and the observed oxygen tension decrease. 4 The usefulness, as well as the safety of the lavage procedure, in managing tricyclic antidepressants overdoses is controversial.