Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
washout procedure
Surgical irrigation and cleansing of a body cavity or wound to remove debris and reduce infection risk.
Full Definition
A surgical intervention involving copious irrigation of anatomical spaces, wounds, or body cavities with sterile saline or antibiotic solutions to remove blood clots, debris, infected material, or contaminants. In emergency surgery, washout procedures are commonly performed for abdominal contamination, infected wounds, or orthopedic hardware infections. The procedure may be performed as a standalone operation or in conjunction with other surgical interventions and often requires multiple staged procedures for optimal outcomes.
Usage
Usage note: Document volume and type of irrigation fluid used during washout procedures.
In Context
- "Abdominal washout procedure was performed with 10 liters of warm saline to address the gross contamination." — General surgery operative report
- "The infected joint required a formal washout procedure with hardware removal." — Orthopedic surgery consultation
Also known as
irrigation and debridement
surgical washout
Contrasted with
primary closure
dry surgical field
Don't confuse with
peritoneal lavage
wound irrigation