Iced saline lavage does not slow bleeding from experimental canine gastric ulcers.

The efficacy and safety of iced saline lavage for upper gastrointestinal bleeding is unproven. In this study, canine stomachs were lavaged in vivo to determine whether iced saline staunched bleeding from mechanically induced acute gastric ulcers. Each animal served as its own control. Bleeding rates were measured during an initial period of saline lavage at 37 degrees C. Saline at 4 degrees C, with or without added norepinephrine, was no more effective than saline at 37 degrees C in decreasing the rate of gastric hemorrhage. These data do not support the clinical practice of lavaging with iced saline or norepinephrine-containing solutions in human gastric hemorrhage.