| liver-shod clamp | A clamp with jaws covered by cloth to prevent injury to structures such as bowel when clamp is closed. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| liver-spleen scan | <radiology> Tc-99m sulfur colloid or albumin colloid, particles less than 1 m, dose = 4-8 mCi Distribution, liver 85%, spleen 10%, bone marrow 5% Findings, liver: hot / cold, spleen: hot / cold (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver spot | A variably pigmented lentigo occurring on exposed skin of older Caucasians. Synonym: liver spot, solar lentigo. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver spots | A skin disorder seen with aging (or sun exposure) where there are flat patches of increased pigmentation on the skin. They are nonserious, benign and generally more important cosmetically. The most commonly appear on sun exposed areas such as the forehead and the back of the hands. Avoidance of the sun and the use of a sunscreen (SPF of 15) can reduce the incidence of these lesions. Creams and lotions are available which bleach the skin. Cryotherapy can be used in some cases. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver starch | <biochemistry> Branched polymer of D glucose (mostly _(1-4) linked, but some _(1-6) at branch points). Size range very variable, up to 10exp5 glucose units. Major short term storage polymer of animal cells and is particularly abundant in the liver and to a lesser extent in muscle. In the electron microscope glycogen has a characteristic asterisk or star appearance. (18 Nov 1997) |
| liver transplant | <procedure, surgery> Surgery to replace a disease liver with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is technically quite difficult, since both vessels and biliary tract must be reattached to the new liver. most often indicated in those with long-term chronic hepatitis or congenital liver defects. Not usually performed in the situation of alcoholic cirrhosis or primary biliary cirrhosis. (14 Oct 1997) |
| liver transplantation | The transference of a part of or an entire liver from one human or animal to another. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abdomen, acute | Clinical syndrome characterised by abdominal pain of great severity associated with other symptoms and signs, usually those of acute peritonitis, which might well be the result of a ruptured abdominal viscus or a similar abdominal catastrophe requiring urgent surgical operation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute | 1. Sharp, poignant. 2. Having a short and relatively severe course. Origin: L. Acutus = sharp (18 Nov 1997) |
| acute abdomen | Any serious acute intra-abdominal condition (such as appendicitis) attended by pain, tenderness, and muscular rigidity, and for which emergency surgery must be considered. Synonym: surgical abdomen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute abscess | A recently formed abscess with little or no fibrosis in the wall of the cavity. Synonym: hot abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute adrenal crisis | <endocrinology> An abrupt life-threatening state which is caused by insufficient production of cortisol by the adrenal gland. A typical finding in Addison's disease. Individuals who have been taking corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) for a prolonged period of time (weeks to months) are at risk for acute adrenal crisis if the medication is stopped abruptly. For this reason, corticosteroid medication are withdrawn slowly on a diminishing dosing schedule. Symptoms include low blood pressure (shock), weakness, headache, vomiting, fever chills, tachycardia and sweating. Treatment includes blood pressure support and intravenous hydrocortisone. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute adrenocortical insufficiency | Severe adrenocortical insufficiency when an intercurrent illness or trauma causes an increased demand for adrenocortical hormones in a patient with adrenal insufficiency due to disease or use of relatively large amounts of similar hormones as therapy; characterised by nausea, vomiting, hypotension, and frequently hyperthemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, and hypoglycaemia; can be fatal if untreated. Synonym: addisonian crisis, adrenal crisis, Bernard-Sergent syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute African sleeping sickness | A disease of humans caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in eastern Africa from Ethiopia and Uganda south to Zimbabwe; it is clinically similar to Gambian trypanosomiasis but of shorter duration and more acute in form; patients suffer repeated episodes of pyrexia, become anaemic, and die commonly from cardiac failure. Synonym: acute African sleeping sickness, acute trypanosomiasis, East African sleeping sickness, East African trypanosomiasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute alcoholism | A temporary deterioration in mental function, accompanied by muscular incoordination and paresis, induced by the rapid ingestion of alcoholic beverages. Synonym: intoxication. (05 Mar 2000) |