Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «D»:
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Debilitate
Debilitate: To impair the strength or to
enfeeble. A chronic progressive disease may debilitate a
patient. So may, temporarily, a major surgical procedure.
In both cases the weakness is pervasive. Weakness in an arm
or leg following the removal of a cast is not debility. The
word "debilitate"...
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Debride
Debride: To remove dead, contaminated or adherent tissue or foreign material. The purpose of wound debridement is to remove all materials that may promote infection and impede healing. This may be done by enzymatic debridement (as with proteolytic enzymes), mechanical nonselective debridement (as in...
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Debridement
Debridement: The act of debriding (removing dead, contaminated or adherent tissue or foreign material). Debridement encompasses enzymatic debridement (as with proteolytic enzymes), mechanical nonselective debridement (as in a whirlpool), and sharp debridement (by surgery). See: Debride....
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Debris flow injury
Debris flow injury: Also known as mudslide injury. See: Landslide injury....
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Debulk
Debulk: To remove part of the bulk, usually of a tumor or dead tissue. Debulking may be done by surgery, irradiation, laser or chemotherapy....
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Decease
Decease: To depart from life; to die....
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Decompress
Decompress:
1. In general, to remove pressure physically or emotionally.
2. In surgery, to remove pressure on a structure such as the spinal cord.
3. To lessen atmospheric pressure on deep-sea divers returning to the surface, or on persons ascending to great heights....
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Decompression
Decompression:
1. In general, the removal of pressure.
2. In surgery, a procedure to remove pressure on a structure, as in decompression of the spinal cord.
3. The lessening of atmospheric pressure on deep-sea divers returning to the surface, or on persons ascending to great heights....
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Decompression, biliary
Decompression, biliary: See: Biliary decompression....
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Decongestant
Decongestant: A drug that shrinks the swollen membranes
in the nose and makes it easier to breath. Decongestants can be taken orally or by nasal spray. Decongestant nasal sprays should not be used for more than five days without the doctor's advice, and if so, usually only when accompanied by a nasa...
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Decortication
Decortication: Removal of part or all of the outer surface of an organ such as the lung, kidney, or brain....
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Decubitus
Decubitus: Lying down. A decubitus ulcer is a bed sore, the consequence of lying in one position too long. The Latin "decubitus" (meaning lying down) is related to "cubitum" (the elbow) reflecting the fact the Romans habitually rested on their elbows when they reclined....
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Decubitus ulcer
Decubitus ulcer: A bed sore, a skin ulcer that comes from lying in one position too long so that the circulation in the skin is compromised by the pressure, particularly over a bony prominence such as the sacrum (sacral decubitus).
The Latin "decubitus" (meaning lying down) is related to "cubitum" ...
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Deep
Deep: In anatomy, away from the surface or further into the body. As opposed to superficial. The bones are deep to the skin.
For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation, please see the entry to "Anatomic Orientation Terms"....
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Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis: A blood clot (thrombus) in a deep vein in the thigh or
leg. The clot can break off as an embolus and make its
way to the lung, where it can cause respiratory distress and respiratory failure.
Deep vein thrombosis is
sometimes called the "economy-class syndrome." Even in yo...
