Definition of "lavage" [lavage]

• A washing, especially of a hollow organ, such as the stomach or lower bowel, with repeated injections of water. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Ipecac's safety in the elderly has not been established, and may even have adverse effects. 18 Gastric lavage and activated charcoal are the preferred methods for GI decontamination in the older adult. 6"
• "Standard decontamination procedures should be followed in the conscious patient, including emesis with syrup of ipecac or gastric lavage, activated charcoal and a cathartic."
• "If bowel sounds are absent, at least one dose of activated charcoal can be administered and then removed by lavage within two hours in order to avoid concretions."