Abstract
Objective: To describe a bibliographic survey about the use of gastric lavage (LG) and activated carbon (CA) as a measure of gastrointestinal decontamination in patients with exogenous intoxication. Methods: This is an integrative review based on the consultation of works indexed in the research platforms Scientific Electronic Library Online, Virtual Health Library and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, with the Health Sciences Descriptors, “gastric lavage ”ON“ activated carbon ”AND“ exogenous intoxication ”. Inclusion criteria: articles published in the last five years, with full text or abstracts available for free; in English, Spanish or Portuguese; and related to the research objective. Results: Divided into studies that referenced an intoxicating active principle and others that referred to several, most authors do not clarify the benefits and harms of the therapy, regardless of the time of ingestion and administration or not of CA and LG, however, it’s observed that the use of CA is demonstrated as a preferable method of decontamination. Final Considerations: CA and LG are the most used methods for gastrointestinal decontamination in patients with exogenous intoxication, even though there is a divergence between the time of ingestion of the toxic agent and the use of these procedures.