gastric lavage

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Word: Gastric Lavage

Definition: Gastric lavage is a medical procedure that involves washing out the stomach. Doctors use sterile water or a saltwater solution to remove harmful substances like blood or poisons from the stomach.

Usage Instructions:

• Context: Gastric lavage is typically used in hospitals, especially in emergency situations.
• When to Use: You might hear this term when discussing medical treatments for poisoning or overdose.

Example:

• "After I accidentally ingested a toxic substance, the doctor ordered a gastric lavage to clean out my stomach."

Advanced Usage:

• Gastric lavage is often considered in cases of severe poisoning, where quick action is necessary to prevent the absorption of harmful substances into the bloodstream.

Word Variants:

• Gastric (adjective): Related to the stomach. For example, "gastric acid" refers to the acid in the stomach.
• Lavage (noun): The act of washing out a part of the body, often used in medical contexts.

Different Meanings:

• While "lavage" generally means washing, in medical terms, it specifically refers to the washing out of internal organs.

Synonyms:

• Stomach washing
• Gastric irrigation (though this term is less commonly used)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "gastric lavage." However, understanding phrases like "clean out" can be useful.
  • Example Phrase: "The doctor said they needed to clean out my stomach after the overdose."

Summary:

Gastric lavage is a medical term for the procedure used to wash out the stomach to remove harmful substances. It is a serious procedure that is performed in a hospital setting, often in emergencies.

Academic

Noun

1. washing out the stomach with sterile water or a saltwater solution; removes blood or poisons
   • when the doctor ordered a gastric lavage the hospital pumped out my stomach