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Glossary

Showing 311-320 out of 1154 Terms

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  • Decongestant

    A medicine that helps to shrink mucous membranes and decrease production of mucous.

  • Decortication

    (deh-KOR-tih-KAY-shun)

    Removal of part or all of the external surface of an organ.

  • Deep sedation

    (... seh-DAY-shun)

    A level of sedation in which a person is in a deep sleep, loses feeling, and is hard to wake up. Deep sedation is caused by special drugs and is used to help relieve anxiety during certain medical or surgical procedures. Oxygen may also be given to help the patient breathe and drugs that relieve pain may be given at the same time. The patient usually does not remember the procedure.

  • Deficiency

    (dih-FIH-shun-see)

    In medicine, a shortage of a substance (such as a vitamin or mineral) needed by the body.

  • Definitive diagnosis

    (deh-FIH-nih-tiv DY-ug-NOH-sis)

    A final diagnosis that is made after getting the results of tests, such as blood tests and biopsies, that are done to find out if a certain disease or condition is present.

  • Definitive treatment

    (deh-FIH-nih-tiv TREET-ment)

    The treatment plan for a disease or disorder that has been chosen as the best one for a patient after all other choices have been considered.

  • Dehydration

    (dee-hy-DRAY-shun)

    A depletion of body fluids.

  • Delirium

    (deh-LEER-ee-um)

    A mental state in which a person is confused, disoriented, and not able to think or remember clearly. The person may also be agitated and have hallucinations, and extreme excitement.

  • Denial

    (deh-NY-ul)

    In psychiatry, a state in which a person is unable or unwilling to see the truth or reality about an issue or situation.

  • Denileukin diftitox

    (DEH-nih-LOO-kin DIF-tih-tox)

    A drug used to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that has recurred (come back) or has not gotten better with other treatment. It is used in patients whose cancer has a receptor for the protein interleukin-2 (IL-2). It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Denileukin diftitox is made by combining IL-2 with a bacterial toxin. The IL-2 part of the drug attaches to the cancer cells and the toxin kills them. Denileukin diftitox is a type of immunotoxin and a type of fusion protein. Also called Ontak.