lavage
lavage — noun
1. a medical procedure in which a sterile saline solution is introduced into the lu
a medical procedure in which a sterile saline solution is introduced into the lungs and then withdrawn so that the fluid can be tested for infections, abnormal cells, or other medical conditions
The doctor ordered a lung lavage to test Rosa for a fungal infection in her airways.
lung lavage — diagnostic purpose
After the lavage, the laboratory found bacteria in Xin's lung fluid sample.
Chen felt nervous as the bronchoscope filled his lungs with saline to collect a fluid sample.
bronchoscope + saline — key tools for lung lavage
Bronchial lavage helped the medical team diagnose Nadia's rare lung disease.
bronchial lavage — alternative term for lung lavage
The nurse prepared the saline and bronchoscope that would wash Deepa's lungs for testing.
prepared sterile saline and bronchoscope — specific lavage equipment
- lung lavage
- bronchial lavage
- bronchoalveolar lavage
- perform a lavage
- undergo lavage
- lavage fluid
- diagnostic lavage
- bronchial lavage
the more specific clinical term for this diagnostic lung procedure
- bronchoalveolar lavage
the full medical term often abbreviated as BAL; used when the sample comes from the tiny air sacs
Grammar Patterns
perform + lavage + on + person
undergo + [organ] + lavage
lavage + of + [body part]
Usage Note
Typically performed under local anaesthesia using a bronchoscope. The term bronchial lavage or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is more specific when referring to the lung procedure.
Common Mistakes
2. a medical treatment that involves flushing a sterile fluid through an internal b
a medical treatment that involves flushing a sterile fluid through an internal body cavity, such as the stomach or colon, to clean it out for therapeutic reasons
The emergency room staff performed gastric lavage after Tariq accidentally swallowed a harmful chemical.
gastric lavage — emergency treatment for poisoning
Gastric lavage is sometimes the fastest way to remove poison from a patient's stomach.
The doctor recommended a colonic lavage as part of the treatment plan for Ibrahim's chronic digestive problems.
colonic lavage — washing of the colon
Suki needed an urgent lavage to clean harmful substances out of her digestive tract.
The nurse explained that the lavage would use warm water to rinse Oluwaseun's colon gently.
- gastric lavage
- colonic lavage
- peritoneal lavage
- therapeutic lavage
- urgent lavage
- emergency lavage
- gastric lavage
the specific term when the stomach is being washed out; also called stomach pumping
- irrigation
a broader medical term for rinsing a wound or body cavity; less specific than lavage
Grammar Patterns
gastric + lavage
perform + [organ] + lavage
[organ] + lavage + for + [condition]
Usage Note
Often compounded with the organ name, as in gastric lavage or colonic lavage, to specify which body cavity is being treated. Gastric lavage is a common emergency intervention for poisoning or drug overdose.