Lavage
Lavage
Lavage (/ləˈvɑːʒ/; from French, meaning 'washing') is a general term referring to the process of washing out an organ or body cavity, usually with a tube and a suitable fluid. In medicine, it is commonly used in procedures like bronchoalveolar lavage, gastric lavage, and peritoneal lavage.
Etymology
The term 'lavage' is derived from the French word 'laver', which means 'to wash'. It was first used in the medical context in the late 19th century.
Procedures
- Bronchoalveolar lavage: This is a medical procedure in which a bronchoscope is passed through the mouth or nose into the lungs to obtain cells and other components for laboratory examination.
- Gastric lavage: Also known as stomach pumping or gastric irrigation, this is a procedure that involves the cleaning out of the contents of the stomach. It is usually used in cases of poisoning or drug overdose.
- Peritoneal lavage: This is a diagnostic procedure used to determine if there is free floating fluid, most often blood, in the abdominal cavity.
Related Terms
- Irrigation (medicine): This is a type of lavage that involves washing out a wound or body cavity using a flow of solution.
- Therapeutic irrigation: This is a type of lavage used for therapeutic purposes, such as in the treatment of infected wounds.
- Dialysis: This is a type of blood lavage that involves the removal of waste and excess water from the blood in those whose kidneys are not able to perform these functions naturally.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lavage
- Wikipedia's article - Lavage
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