What is the role of gastric lavage in newborn?

Question

Gastric lavage is done on newborns delvered via Cesarian section.

Answer 1

Gastric lavage used to be done on all babies delivered by C- section. The uniform practice has waned considerably, now considered case by case. It was done to reduce the risk of aspiration of the gastric contents.

In some infants, especially premies, the vagus nerve is overstimulated by the procedure and the infant can develop slow heartbeat, spasm of the larynx, and will turn blue. After this happens a couple times, a pediatrician may opt to become a therapeutic nihilist or wear Attends to the operating theater.

Conversely, if the amniotic fluid is bile stained, the OB will carefully and rapidly suction the nose and throat before the infant takes its first breath and then pass the infant to the nursery staff for lavage.

Answer 2

Gastric Lavage Indications

Answer 3

certainly not on all babies born via cesarean, but some docs advocate doing gastric lavage if the mother is Hepatitis B or C positive. The theory is that if the baby doesn't yet have it, and swallowed some of the mother's blood during the procedure, baby can be exposed. So some pediatricians will do gastric lavage to reduce the exposure for the baby.

Answer 4

no