A Comparison of the Efficacy of Emetic Drugs and Stomach Lavage

Abstract

ACCORDING TO Arena,¹ and Krimmel and Sunshine,² more than 500,000 cases of poisoning occur each year in this country, with about 1,500 resultant deaths. Arena¹ states that the number of child deaths from accidental poisoning exceeds the total number of deaths caused by measles, polio, scarlet fever, and diphtheria. In many types of poisoning the primary step in treatment is to evacuate the stomach. Berry and Lambdin³ point out that one of two methods is generally employed for emptying the stomach of toxic material; stomach lavage or pharmacologically-induced emesis. There are differences of opinion as to which is the best method: Robertson⁴ suggested the use of syrup of ipecac, Berry and Lambdin³ prefer apomorphine hydrochloride (HCl), while Arnold et al⁵ found that stomach lavage is less effective than syrup of ipecac. Since there seems to be no general agreement as to which is