Lavage (from the French for "wash") or therapeutic irrigation is the medical term for any cleaning or rinsing for medical purposes. Some examples are:
- Antiseptic lavage, using an antiseptic or anti-fungal solution on a hollow organ, usually one of the intestines.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage, where an endoscope is used to inject a small amount of water into the lungs where it is recollected for testing.
- Gastric lavage or more colloquially "stomach pump", where the contents of the stomach are removed.
- Peritoneal lavage, where liquid is injected into the peritoneum and removed for testing.
- Arthroscopic lavage, where an arthroscope is used to wash out blood, debris or other fluid from a joint.
- Ductal lavage, where a small amount of fluid is injected into the breast to collect milk producing cells for testing.
- Ear lavage, or ear wash, to clean out the outer canal of the ear.
- Pulsed lavage, using pulsed water under pressure to clean out open and chronic wounds.