Final answer:
The Sengstaken-Blakemore tube is a triple-lumen tube used to compress the esophagus in cases of severe bleeding from gastrointestinal varices. It has one lumen for gastric lavage, one for balloon inflation, and one for gastric decompression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sengstaken-Blakemore tube is a triple-lumen tube that is used to compress the esophagus in cases of severe bleeding from gastrointestinal varices.
One lumen is used for gastric lavage, where the stomach is flushed with fluid to remove blood or other contents.
The second lumen is used for esophageal or gastric balloon inflation, which helps to compress the varices and stop bleeding.
The third lumen is used for gastric decompression, which involves removing fluid or air from the stomach.