Glossary
Around the topic of medical drainage or therapy of pleural effusions and ascites, one encounters medical terminology and other foreign words again and again, so also on our website. To make what we have written as understandable as possible, we have compiled these terms and simple, brief explanations for you in our glossary.
Glossary
Around the topic of medical drainage or therapy of pleural effusions and ascites, one encounters medical terminology and other foreign words again and again, so also on our website. To make what we have written as understandable as possible, we have compiled these terms and simple, brief explanations for you in our glossary.
A
Ascites
Effusion or accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (belly)
B
Barium sulfate
X-ray contrast agent
C
Chylous effusion
Milky cloudy effusion
D
DEHP
Plasticizers in plastics
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath
E
Protein loss
Reduction of the amount of protein in the blood (protein depletion)
Electrolyte imbalance
Disturbance of the balance of ions (e.g. sodium, potassium, calcium) in the blood or in the body cells
Erythema
Skin redness
H
Heimlich valve
Backflow protection for increased patient safety
Hepatorenal syndrome
Decrease in kidney function
Hypotension
Low blood pressure
I
Infection
Reaction of the body’s own defenses to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, etc.
Incision
Skin incision during surgery, e.g. for implantation of the catheter
K
Chambering
Encapsulation of effusion in pleural cavity
Koagel
Blood clot
Circulatory collapse
Temporary loss of consciousness
L
Pulmonary emphysema
Irreversible hyperinflation of the alveoli
Pulmonary fistula
open connection between lung tissue and pleural space
M
Malignant
Malignant
O
Edema
Swelling due to excessive fluid accumulation
Occlusion
Occlusion of a hollow organ (e.g. a vessel)
P
Peritoneal cavity
Part of the abdominal cavity
Peritoneum
Membranes coating the interior of the abdomen and surrounding the abdominal organs
Peritonitis
Infection of the peritoneum (abdominal cavity)
Phthalate
Plasticizers (e.g. DEHP)
Phthalate exposure
Come into contact with phthalates
Pleura
Thin, serous skin in the thoracic cavity (pleura)
Pleural effusion
Effusion or accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity
Pneumothorax
Air in the space between the lungs and the chest wall
R
Reexpansion pulmonary edema
Fluid retention in functional lung tissue due to sudden expansion of previously compressed lung; acute respiratory distress
Recurrent effusion
Recurrent effusion
Check valve
Backflow protection for increased patient safety
S
Septs
Tissue bridges / chambering between spaces separated from each other in a body cavity (e.g. abdomen).
Sept formation
Spaces in a body cavity (e.g. abdomen) separated from each other by tissue bridges (septa).
Serious
Consisting of blood serum
Subcutaneous tissue
Tissue under the skin
T
Therapy refractory
Not responding to treatment
Thorax
Chest
Chest Drainage
Used to pump blood, secretions, or air out of the pleural space (space between the pleura and the lung pleura)
