Gastrointestinal tract perforation with charcoal peritoneum complicating orogastric intubation and lavage

A rare complication of gastric decontamination occurred in a young woman undergoing treatment for tricyclic ingestion. After orogastric intubation and lavage, she developed an acute abdomen and underwent laparotomy. Charcoal was discovered throughout the peritoneum, but concurrent and subsequent efforts failed to localize a specific perforation site. Her hospital course was protracted and complicated by tenacious peritoneal charcoal deposition, persistent peritonitis, and adhesion and abscess formation. She underwent both percutaneous and open abscess drainage, oophorectomy, and small-bowel resection. She required total parenteral nutrition in addition to feeding jejunostomy. This present case constitutes the first report of the clinical consequences of charcoal peritoneum. Outright viscus perforation should be considered among potential complications of orogastric intubation and lavage in the poisoned patient. Methods to minimize risks of its occurrence are suggested.