Glossary
When discussing medical treatment methods, one often encounters various medical terms and other foreign words. This is also the case on our website or in our brochures when we provide information on drainage of pleural effusion and ascites. To make the texts easier to understand, we have compiled some common terms with short explanations in our glossary.
Glossary
When discussing medical treatment methods, one often encounters various medical terms and other foreign words. This is also the case on our website or in our brochures when we provide information on drainage of pleural effusion and ascites. To make the texts easier to understand, we have compiled some common terms with short explanations in our glossary.
A
Albumin loss
reduction of the amount of protein in the blood (protein reduction)
Ascites
fluid accumulated in the abdomen (stomach)
B
Barium sulfate
X-ray contrast agent
Bronchopleural fistula
open communication between the pleural cavity and the bronchial tree
C
Check valve
backflow protection for increased patient safety
Chylous fluid
milky-appearing fluid
Circulatory collapse
temporary unconsciousness
Clot
blood clot
D
DEHP
plasticiser in plastic
Dyspnea
respiratory distress
E
Edema
swelling caused by fluid retention
Electrolytic imbalance
disturbance of the normal level of certain chemical substances (e.g. sodium, potassium, calcium) in the blood or in body cells
Erythema
skin rash
H
Heimlich valve
check valve for increased patient safety
Hepatorenal syndrome
impaired kidney function
Hypotension
low blood pressure
I
Infection
the immune system’s response to infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, etc.
Incision
skin incisions during surgery, e.g. for catheter implantation
L
Loculation
compartmentalization of the fluid in the pleural cavity
M
Malignant
malicious
O
Occlusion
blockage of a hollow organ (e.g. a blood vessel) or a catheter
P
Peritoneal cavity
abdominal cavity
Peritoneum
membrane that forms a layer on the inside of the abdomen and surrounds the organs of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum)
Peritonitis
inflammation of the peritoneum
Phthalate
plasticisers (e.g. DEHP)
Phthalate exposure
come into contact with phthalates
Pleura
thin layer of tissue covering the lungs and lines the interior wall in the chest cavity
Pleural effusion
excess fluid in the pleural space
Pneumothorax
air in the space between the lung and the chest wall
Pulmonary emphysema
irreversible damage to the alveoli
R
Recurrent fluid
repetitive fluid
Re-expansion pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluid in the lung tissue caused by a sudden expansion of the previously compressed lung; acute respiratory distress
S
Septum
partition wall between spaces separated in a body cavity (e.g. abdomen).
Septa formation
connective tissue (septa) that can form separate compartments in a body cavity (e.g. in the abdominal cavity)
Serous
consists of blood serum
Subcutaneous tissue
tissue under the skin
T
Treatment-Refractory
not responding to treatment
Thorax
rib cage
Thoracic drainage
draining of blood, secretions or air from the pleural cavity (the space between the ribs and the lung)