critical care medicine
How To Do Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage (DPL)
Aftercare for Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage
Remove the urethral catheter and nasogastric tube if these are not otherwise needed. After a negative DPL, most clinicians consider additional diagnostic testing and admit the patient to hospital for observation and serial abdominal examinations. Keep the patient NPO initially but introduce liquid and then food, depending on clinical status. 