| ocular prosthesis | An artificial eye or implant. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| ossicular prosthesis | An implant used to replace one or more of the ear ossicles. They are usually made of plastic, gelfoam, ceramic, or stainless steel. (12 Dec 1998) |
| testicular prosthesis | A device placed surgically in the scrotum in males with absence or severe hypoplasia of the testis. Synonym: testicular prosthesis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tilting disc valve prosthesis | A low profile artificial heart valve with excellent flow characteristics. (05 Mar 2000) |
| joint prosthesis | An artificial substitute for a missing joint. (12 Dec 1998) |
| knee prosthesis | Replacement for a knee joint. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute kidney failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute renal failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute respiratory failure | Loss of pulmonary function either acute or chronic that results in hypoxaemia or hypercarbia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| backward heart failure | A concept (formerly considered mutually exclusive of forward heart failure) that maintains that the phenomena of congestive heart failure result from passive engorgement of the veins caused by a "backward" rise in pressure proximal to the failing cardiac chambers. Compare: forward heart failure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac failure | A condition where there is ineffective pumping of the heart leading to an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Typical symptoms include shortness of breath with exertion, difficulty breathing when lying flat and leg or ankle swelling. Causes include chronic hypertension, cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction. (27 Sep 1997) |
| pacemaker failure | Failure of an artificial pacemaker to generate or deliver effective stimuli to the myocardium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| renal failure | Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. If renal function declines to a low enough level (end-stage renal disease) kidney dialysis may be necessary. A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| respiratory failure | A clinical syndrome that is defined either by the inability to rid the body of C02 or establish an adequate blood oxygen level (PAO2). See: arterial blood gas. (27 Sep 1997) |
| right ventricular failure | An weakening of the right ventricle that results in the back up of blood in the venous system, liver, gastrointestinal tract and extremities. The causes of this condition include left-sided congestive heart failure, emphysema, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, anaemia, hyperthyroidism, cor pulmonale and congenital heart disease. Risk factors include diabetes, alcoholism, obesity and smoking. Symptoms include swelling of the feet and ankles, nocturia, increased distention of neck veins, fatigue, weakness and fainting, Ascites, arrhythmias and pleural effusions are complications of right ventricular failure. (27 Sep 1997) |