| elective mutism | Mutism due to psychogenic causes. Synonym: voluntary mutism. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| akinetic mutism | Subacute or chronic state of altered consciousness, in which the patient appears alert intermittently, but is not responsive, although his/her descending motor pathways appear intact; due to lesions of various cerebral structures. Synonym: coma vigil. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| voluntary mutism | Mutism due to psychogenic causes. Synonym: voluntary mutism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mutism | Inability or refusal to speak. Origin: L. Mutus = unable to speak, inarticulate (18 Nov 1997) |
| surgical procedures, elective | Surgery which could be postponed or not done at all without danger to the patient. Elective surgery includes procedures to correct non-life-threatening medical problems as well as to alleviate conditions causing psychological stress or other potential risk to patients, e.g., cosmetic or contraceptive surgery. (12 Dec 1998) |
| elective | Subject to the choice or decision of the patient or physician, applied to procedures that are advantageous to the patient but not urgent. (18 Nov 1997) |
| elective abortion | The planned termination of a pregnancy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| elective culture | A method of isolating microorganisms capable of utilizing a specific substrate by incubating an inoculum in a medium containing the substrate; the medium usually contains substances or has characteristics that inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms. Synonym: enrichment culture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elective surgery | Surgery which is not needed immediately, i.e., one for a non-life-threatening disorder. (09 Oct 1997) |