Removal of Gastric Drug Masses

Abstract

To the Editor: In certain special cases, a gastrotomy has proved to be a useful therapeutic approach for the removal of large quantities of drugs that tend to form concretions in the stomach. The application of that therapeutic modality to the patient of Schwartz¹ was, no doubt, lifesaving. Few physicians, however, appear to be aware of an effective, nonoperative, maneuver that could achieve the same results in these critically ill patients. Barbiturates, meprobamate, glutethimide and aspirin are most commonly thought of as forming concretions, but the maneuver that I have described² has led me to believe that many other . . .