Is gastric lavage required before undergoing a gastroscopy?

Generally speaking, whether gastric lavage is required before a gastroscopy depends on the reason for the procedure. If the patient is undergoing routine stomach examination, gastric lavage is usually not necessary; however, if the gastroscopy involves surgical intervention in the stomach, gastric lavage is typically required. The details are as follows:

1. Not required

Gastroscopy is a medical diagnostic procedure, divided into conventional gastroscopy and painless gastroscopy, which allows visualization of lesions in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum—especially useful for detecting small abnormalities. If the patient is undergoing routine screening for gastric inflammation, ulcers, tumors, or similar conditions, gastric lavage is generally not needed. It should be noted that prior to such gastroscopy, patients must fast for 8–12 hours to reduce gastrointestinal burden and avoid interference with the examination results.

2. Required

If the gastroscopy is intended for surgical or therapeutic purposes in the stomach, gastric lavage is usually necessary. The purpose of this lavage is to remove food residue and impurities from the stomach to facilitate the surgical or therapeutic procedure. During gastric lavage, the doctor inserts a tube through the patient's mouth, infuses a certain amount of lavage fluid into the stomach via the tube, and simultaneously aspirates the gastric contents until the stomach is thoroughly cleaned.

If a patient experiences any discomfort symptoms, it is recommended to seek timely medical attention at a hospital to prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment.