Medical Glossary: D

D&C

Abreviation of Dilation and Curettage. A procedure which involves the surgical dilation of the cervix and the insertion of a curette to remove the contents. It is used to scrape the uterine walls for disease diagnosis, remove retained fragments of the placenta postpartum, or after an incomplete abortion, or remove tumors in the uterus.

Dehydration

Excessive loss of water from the body tissues. When the body becomes dehydrated, the natural balance of chemicals including sodium, potassium and chloride become disturbed. Dehydration may be caused by prolonged fever, diarrhea, vomitting or any other condition where the body's fluid is rapidly lost. It is important to maintain fluid levels in children and infants where the the levels of chemicals are not yet fully stabilized. Signs of dehydration include dry skin, irritability and confusion.

Demerol

A painkilling drug collectively known as analgesics.

DES

Abbreviation of diethylstilbestrol, a nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen. It was administered in the past in an attempt to prevent miscarriage.

Developmental Delay

A condition in which the development of the fetus is slower than the gestational age of the baby.

Dextrose

Also known as D-Glucose, dextrose is a solution of glucose which is used for fluid replacement and the supplement the body's level of blood sugar. It is often introduced through an intravenous drip.

Dextrosix

A test which is administered to analyze the level of sugar in the urine.

Diastasis Recti

A medical term used to describe the separation of the abdominal muscles.

Diethylstilbestrol

A nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen. It was administered in the past in an attempt to prevent miscarriage. Abbreviated to DES.

Diastolic Pressure

The diastole is the period of time between the second of the double heartbeat, and the first of a subsequent heartbeat. At this point blood enters the relaxed ventricular chambers. The diastolic pressure is one of the two numbers given when measuring blood pressure, the other being the systolic pressure.

Diazepam

A benzodiazepine anticonvulsant and antianxiety agent, marketed as Valium. See BabyPartner's guide to Drugs and Pregnancy for more information.

Dilation

The opening of the cervix during labor, caused by the contractions of the uterus. The cervix dilates so that it will be large enough for the baby to pass through the birth canal during delivery.

Dilation and Curettage

Often abbreviated to D&C. A procedure which involves the surgical dilation of the cervix and the insertion of a curette to remove the contents. It is used to scrape the uterine walls for disease diagnosis, remove retained fragments of the placenta postpartum, or after an incomplete abortion, or remove tumors in the uterus.

Distocia

A condition in which the shoulders of the baby become stuck in the birth canal during delivery.

Diuretics

One of a series of drugs which are used to promote urination in the patient. They are given to reduce the volume of non-cellular fluids, usually in the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure and edema.

Whether the drug falls into the category of thiazides, mercurials, loop diuretics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, thiazide-like diuretics or potassium-sparing diuretics will depend on the condition of the patient.

Dizygotic Twins

Twins which were developed from two separate eggs, released from the ovary and fertilized at the same time. They may or may not be of the same sex, differ physically and genetically and have separate placentas, and separate amnionic and chorionic membranes. They are sometimes called binovular twins, dissimilar twins, false twins, fraternal twins or heterologous twins.

Twins developed from the same egg, are knowns as monozygotic or identical twins.

Doppler Effect

The term given to the apparent change in frequency of sound or light waves depending on whether it is moving toward or away from the listener (such as the change in tone of emergency vehicles or cars as they pass by). This effect is also noticeable in electromagnetic waves, and is used in ultrasound scanning to listen to the fetal heartbeat.

Dorsosacral Position

Sometimes called the lithomy position, it describes the posture assumed by the patient when lying on her back with the hips and knees flexed and the feet supported high and rotated outward.

Down's Syndrome

A congenital abnormality in which the baby is born mentally retarded, with an average IQ of 50 - 60 and with physical deformation of the face (low set ears, sloping forehead, mongoloid eyes), and shortness of stature.

Downs syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome 21 present in the G group. In a small percentage of cases it can be caused by the switching of chromosomes 14 or15 in the D group or chromosome 21 or 22.

Down's syndrome occurs in about 1 in 650 births, and is more commonly associated with children of mother's over the age of 35. Incidence in children of mothers over the age of 40 can be as high as 1 in 80.

Down's syndrome can be detected prenatally through amniocentesis. The mortality rate is high within the first few years. Down's syndrome is also known as mongolizm, trisomy 21 or trisomy G syndrome.

Dura

Short for dura mater spinalis, it describes the fibrous outermost membrane that surrounds the spinal cord. The related dura mater encephali surrounds the brain.

Dyspepsia

Commonly known as indigestion, dyspepsia is the feeling of stomach discomfort felt after eating. Symptoms include fullness, hearturn, bloating and nausea.

While not a condition in itself, dyspepsia can be a sign of some other intestinal disorder such as peptic ulcer, gallbladder disease or chronic appendicitis.

Dysplasia

A medical combining form that means '(a condition of) abnormal development.' Common examples include chondrodysplasia, epidermodysplasia, and osteomyelodysplasia.

Dysuria

A condition in which urination is painful with a burning sensation. Often the cause of bacterial infection or some obstruction of the urinary tract. Testing may reveal the presence of bacteria, blood, or white blood cells in the urine. Dysuria is often a symptom of cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, some gynecological disorders and urinary tract tumors.

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