Elsevier's Medical Terminology for the Practicing Nurse: In English

469 Pages·1998·32.89 MB·English

by  S.F. Vanderwerf

ELSEVIER'S
MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
FOR THE
PRACTICING
NURSE
This page intentionally left blank
ELSEVIER'S
MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
FOR THE
PRACTICNG
NURSE
BY
SALLY F. VANDERWERF, R.N., B.N., B.S.
Temple, Texas, U.S.A.
ELSEVIER
Amsterdam - Lausanne - New York - Oxford - Shannon - Singapore - Tokyo
ELSEVIER SCIENCE B.V.
Sara Burgerhartstraat 25
P.O. Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ISBN: 0-444-82470-7
© 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission
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Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Printed in The Netherlands.
V
Author's Preface of Appreciation
This effort is the culmination of my lifelong attraction to medical terminology - that
which continues to be a source of fulfillment for me. Throughout, I have been impacted by
the enhanced efficiency and clarity which is inherent in medical nomenclature.
How do nurses view charting? Too often, it is the last load of the shift, in which haste and
other demands cloud a precise recall of details. When kept up to date with vividly accurate
terminology, we can take pride in our documentation of that which only we might know -
that which bears real significance on the many critical cases we manage.
As each of us knows, the chart is a legal document. Ours is the responsibility to make con-
cise, pertinent, and accurate entries in this record. This actually becomes easier when we
have a comfortable, working knowledge of terminology, which is ever growing. This end-
less opportunity allows nurses (and others) to learn and recall vocabulary and concepts in
whatever field - even by oneself.
The most difficult feature of this work was bringing my treasured accumulation to "com-
pletion". My entire career, I have been blessed with opportunities in which medical exper-
tise was graciously shared and demonstrated by teaching-model MDs. It is difficult to
declare finished such an accumulation of guidance and study, because medical terminology
never stands still. The present work includes the most recent terminology I came across. I
will continue collecting updated material for possible future editions.
My devoted husband of 37 years, the Rev. Calvin W. Vanderwerf, has uplifted me at every
obstacle, and cheered me at each milestone of progress. With loving gratitude, it is to him
that I dedicate this work.
Joyce E. Lee, M.D., my mentor, challenged my love of medicine in nursing, by her
exquisite empathy for each patient and each caregiver. It was she who introduced me to my
favorite indoor sport - medical lectures.
The elegance with which physicians present, challenge, and debate their concerns is as
impressive as the scholarly content of their lectures/seminars. (Many are expensive, but
some are also free - including registration, meals, syllabus, et al.) RNs are welcomed, and
will be awarded CMEs (Continuing Medical Education credits), even though some United
States' boards of nursing will not accept these toward their CEU (Continuing Education
Unit) requirements. As is well known, the latter can also be expensive, unless offered by
one's own hospital.
Since MDs' presentations are on a high, well-defined level, their medical oratory and style
(with appropriate humorous moments) are as fascinating as they are enjoyable. Many of my
900+ hours of CMEs/CEUs represent "vacations with a purpose", and a great many have
been free.
From coast to coast, physicians have built into my medical concepts, principles, and
ethics. They know who they are, and of my gratitude and commitment to what they taught
and lived. It is a distinct privilege to be published, and an honor to have a readership beyond
the United States. I welcome any comments, and will answer these. Thank you for caring
enough to be in touch.
I continue to hold in highest esteem the dedicated Sisters of Mercy at St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, who devoted their careers to sharing their superior education and
vi
nursing goals with their students. We went through graduation in mourning. A month earli-
er, we had buried 5 of our senior classmates of 3 years. St. Mary's motto, "The patient comes
first!", remains a vital priority in this era of compromised values.
Sally F. Vanderwerf, RN, BS
4418 Longhorn Trail
Temple, Texas 76502
USA
e-mail: [email protected]
A
Aaron's sign Seen in appendicitis — pressure health.
applied between the umbilicus and right anterior abdominal pain The strength of contractions
iliac spine will produce epigastric distress. points to possible obstruction. The laying on of
Abadie's sign Spasm of the upper eyelid, as hands becomes a therapeutic and diagnostic
noted in exophthalmic goiter. Also, the absent modality in this assessment. The entire
response to pressure over the Achilles tendon, abdomen should be gently palpated for areas of
seen in tabes dorsalis. rigidity, masses, and tenderness. Upon auscul-
abalienation Mental illness, psychopathy. tation, the pitch, duration, and intensity are
abandonment Desertion of one's patient in the essential qualities to note. Bowel sounds
midst of care/delivery/procedure/surgery, with- assume two poles: a rush of peristalsis on one
out notice to the RN in charge. This places the hand, or total silence on the other. The critical
patient at risk, and the nurse/physician in jeop- state of the latter is illustrated by the saying,
ardy of termination and disciplinary proceedings "Silent as the tomb!" It may be necessary to
by the board of nursing/medicine. silence all people, television, and staff to achieve
abarognosis Inability to perceive weight — as this crucial auscultation. Friction (rubbing)
may be noted in patients with parietal lobe sounds are significant.
lesions. abdominal quadrants Right upper quadrant, left
abarthrosis Abarticulation, diarthrosis, joint dis- upper quadrant, right lower quadrant, left lower
articulation. That pathological or physiological quadrant. By describing these findings, the
freedom from articulation. physician will be able to discern which organs
abasia Impaired ambulation due to lack of coor- are a part of the pathological picture, in this
dination. geographical division of the abdomen. A careful
choreic abasia Difficulty walking, due to invol- patient history is essential. If a pediatric patient,
untary muscular movement. ask him/her to jump up and down. Document
paralytic trepidant abasia Prevention of walk- the response when the bed is bumped (once).
ing due to spasticity and tremors of the legs abdominocentesis Abdominal paracentesis —
when erect. aspiration of serous fluid by trocar, from the
abasia atactica Precarious ambulation due to abdomen distended by ascites.
erratic movement. abdominohysterotomy Abdominouterotomy —
abasia trepidans Those attacks during which the that surgical incision into the uterus via an
trembling patient is unable to ambulate. abdominal approach.
abate To diminish, cause to cease, force to stop. abducent Distant to the midline.
abatement Improvement in the level of pain and abduction Bending to the side; Rotating the eyes
symptomatology. outwardly; Fanning the fingers and toes; Raising
abaxial Distant to the axis. Away from the center an extremity away from the body.
of the body or extremity. abenteric Pertaining to those organs located
Abbott's method Casting of the scoliotic back in away from the intestines.
multiple plaster body casts, as an infrequent aberrant Abnormal, an anomaly. That which
treatment for idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. deviates from the norm.
abdominal aortic aneurysm A dilated area of a aberrant conduction Electric stimulation of the
major artery, usually between the iliac and renal heart, transmitted along abnormal paths.
arteries. Life-threatening because of the risk of aberration That which differs from normal in
rupture, microsurgical (and other) techniques chromosomes, light rays, mentation, refraction,
are raising the success rate. spheres, visual accommodation.
abdominal crisis That exquisite pain seen in abetalipoproteinemia A rare, recessively-inherit-
syphilis or sickle cell anemia crises. ed defect which may arise when the parents are
abdominal examination Auscultation, inspec- consanguineous (related). Neurological anom-
tion, palpation, and percussion techniques alies may appear, as well as ataxia, erythrocyto-
employed to assess abdominal pathology or sis, malabsorption, neuropathy, and/or retinitis
2
pigmentosa. absolute zero The lowest reading on the
ablation Therapeutic destruction of a body part, absolute scale.
involving amputation, irradiation, or radical abstinence Compliance with diets, sobriety,
surgery. avoidance of coitus, and other self-imposed dis-
ablution Cleansing, washing, rinsing. ciplines.
ablutomania Compulsive washing to excess — a abstinence syndrome Withdrawal syndrome.
psychiatric disorder. abuse Inhumanity toward another person.
abnormality Deviation from normal standards, Maltreatment and/or neglect directed toward
an anomaly. another of any age. (All nurses are mandatory
abnormity That which is excessively abnormal, reporters of abuse.) A high percentage of pedi-
an extreme deformity, a monstrosity. (This med- atric sexual abuse occurs within the victim's
ical term is used to describe a grotesquely, con- family. While securing the safety, medical, and
genitally deformed neonate — which may not emotional needs, cultural diversity must be
survive.) allowed. Non-accidental trauma.
abort To interrupt a process prior to its comple- abuse continuity parents Sexually abused par-
tion. To expell the products of conception before ents of sexually abused children.
viability. abuse discontinuity parents Sexually abused
abortifacient Abortient — that agent which is parents of non-sexually abused children.
used to facilitate the interruption of a pregnancy. child abuse (non-accidental trauma)
abortion The expulsion of a nonviable pregnancy. Abdominal trauma of spleen*, liver*,
These may be classified as criminal, elective, intestines*; thermal injuries*; child neglect;
incomplete, spontaneous, therapeutic, threat- child pornography; child prostitution; cranio-
ened. cerebral trauma*; emotional abuse, marasmus;
abrasion Excoriation of the epidermis. failure to thrive; incest; molestation;
abreaction Catharsis in which repressed or for- Munchausen's syndrome by proxy; neurological
gotton (intolerable) events are brought to recog- abuse; occult injury; ophthalmic injury (bilateral
nition under the guidance of a psychologist/psy- involvement is highly suspicious)*; patterned
chiatrist. In confronting and reliving these injuries*; pedophilia; poisoning. (Recently,
unnamed fears, insight and healing are imple- Hispanics' force-feeding of hot peppers* has
mented. come to light.); prenatal abuse; psychological
abruptio placenta Ablatio placentae — an battering; sexual abuse (forcible vaginal/rectal
obstetrical emergency, in which the placenta penetration by whatever means)*; statutory rape
spontaneously separates from the uterine wall, (whether or not age was known); shaken infant
causing hemorrhage and pain. Albuminuria and syndrome*; skeletal trauma (multiple fractures*,
anemia will be present. Shock must be guarded spiral fractures* — always incriminatory); sub-
against, and emergency delivery and/or surgery stance abuse; thoracic trauma*; unexplained
scheduled. injuries*; verbal abuse. That which can never be
abscess Localized suppuration in any tissue, restored, is the violation of the child's trust and
causing pain, edema, and generalized/localized innocence.
fever. Absesses may be acute, chronic, life- *Pathogmonic evidence as highly suspect for
threatening or subacute. absence seizures pediatric abuse.
Petit-mal epilepsy without clonic/tonic activity. Notes
Voluntary hyperventilation may trigger absentia Resultant disorders of the abused child may
epileptica. This event consists of a brief loss of include: Fear of the parent(s); Dread of return-
consciousness, possibly accompanied by ing home; Substance abuse; Delinquency;
stereotypical muscle contractions. The patient's Withdrawal; Precocious sexual knowledge;
activity will be resumed as though it had never Passivity; Excessive compliance; Too
been interrupted. infantile/mature for age; Physical/mental/emo-
absolute Complete, total, and unrestricted. tional lags; Compulsivity; Neurotic traits / psy-
3
choneurotic responses; Suicidal the many people in their lives. Failure to thrive
gesture/attempt. (If the child or retarded person describes a long-identified concern which is
believed the innocuous act would have a lethal aligned with emotional deprivation.
outcome, this represents a suicidal attempt Discrepancy Features in Child Abuse Age under
rather than a gesture.) 3 years; Cause of presenting trauma unknown;
The damage of emotional abuse is tormenting Characteristic distribution of wounds; Child's
because it erodes the person and the psyche. In complaint rehearsed; Child's health neglected;
comforting these victims, the nurse needs to Concurrent family crisis; Disproportionate soft-
guard against using psychobabble. tissue injury; Excessive delay in seeking care for
In prenatal abuse, the fetus is at risk for addic- child; History fails to validate findings; Injuries
tion and substance abuse — including fetal increasing in severity; Parental history of abuse
alcohol syndrome. These infants may be born in as child; Parent minimizes child's injury; Parent
withdrawal. The fetus' mother, who does not reluctant historian; Previous similar
want her unborn child, will transmit to him/her visits/episodes; Unrealistic expectations of child.
this psychiatric rejection while in utero, and if Factors Suggestive of Child Neglect Child
life. aggressiveness; Child terrorized; Excessive cry-
Rape — a crime of violence rather than a sexual ing; Inadequate care/hygiene/nourishment;
crime — requires empathy and support of the Inadequately dressed for the elements;
victim by those whose role it is to give care. Inappropriate treatment of child's concerns;
Support groups see that the victim is accompa- Infant does not mold to mother's arms;
nied and advised throughout the legal process. Irritability of the child; Parents unaware of child-
2nd degree rape describes the insensitive prob- appropriate behavior; Marked passivity;
ing of the victim by those who may have Repeated injuries sustained; Reverse parenting
license, but lack psychotherapeutic wisdom and by the child noted.
finesse. (Too often, these are unlicensed Vulnerability for Child Abuse/Neglect
employees.) Adolescent parents; Child unplanned/unwanted;
Substance abuse includes nicotine abuse, Chronically ill child; Congenital anomalies;
enmeshed by its oral gratification. This drug Extremely authoritative parenting; History of
compromises cardiovascular and respiratory family violence; Marital maladjustment; Mental
health. Of remarkable danger, is the carcinogen illness/retardation; Multiple births; Multiple care-
of chewing tobacco — with marked incidence of takers; Parents maltreated as children;
oral cancer in all ages. Prematurity; Substance abusers;
Ritual abuse describes the obsessive participa- Unachieved/interrupted bonding; Unrealistic
tion in occult attractions. parental expectations, oblivious to age-appropri-
Physical, emotional, mental injury may be ate behavior.
inflicted by out-of-control parents/surrogates. X-ray findings of pediatric abuse Long bone
Often, these victims assume reverse-parenting, fracture(s), accompanied by subdural
in which the child tries to anticipate the parent's hematoma*; periosteal shearing*; separation of
needs and wishes — lest s/he incur more hos- the epiphysis*; subperiosteal calcification of
tility. (The child may also find him-herself fracture*; subperiosteal hemorrhage*.
blamed for frustrations and reversals which did *Pathogmonic evidence as highly suspect for
not involve the child.) These youngsters assume pediatric abuse.
responsibility (or are blamed) for their parents' adult abuse Clergy abuse; date rape, 2nd
failed marriages. In turn, they are likely to follow degree rape, violent rape; domestic abuse; drug
this indelible psychic example in their parenting. abuse; elder abuse; neglect; emotional abuse;
Molestation refers to the manual manipulation ritual abuse.
of a child's erogenous areas. Children now are child pornography Use of a minor in the pro-
taught at an early age the difference between a duction of sexual/nude material — even with the
"good touch" and a "bad touch" received from consent of the parent(s).