Glossary of Medical Terms

The amount of money that a patient with health insurance pays for healthcare services before the health insurance plan begins to pay. Healthcare services may include visits to the doctor, laboratory tests, prescription medicines, and hospital stays. Not all healthcare plans require a deductible. Usually, plans with higher deductibles have lower monthly premiums (payments).

A level of sedation in which a person is in a deep sleep, loses feeling, and is hard to wake up. Deep sedation is caused by special drugs and is used to help relieve anxiety during certain medical or surgical procedures. Oxygen may also be given to help the patient breathe and drugs that relieve pain may be given at the same time. The patient usually does not remember the procedure.

The formation of a blood clot in a deep vein of the leg or lower pelvis. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, warmth, and redness in the affected area. Also called DVT.

Movement of feces (undigested food, bacteria, mucus, and cells from the lining of the intestines) through the bowel and out the anus. Also called bowel movement.

A test which is used to assess automatic psychological processes (or coping styles) which protect the person against anxiety and from the awareness of internal or external dangers or stressors.

A drug used to treat too much iron in the blood caused by blood transfusions. It is being studied in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (a group of diseases in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells) and other conditions. Deferasirox binds to extra iron in the blood. The drug and the iron are passed from the body in urine. It is a type of chelating agent. Also called Exjade.

An iron-chelating agent that removes iron from tumors by inhibiting DNA synthesis and causing cancer cell death. It is used in conjunction with other anticancer agents in pediatric neuroblastoma therapy.

Closely watching a patient’s condition but not giving treatment unless symptoms appear or change, or there are changes in test results. Deferred therapy avoids problems that may be caused by treatments such as radiation or surgery. It is used to find early signs that the condition is getting worse. During deferred therapy, patients may be given certain exams and tests. It is sometimes used in prostate cancer. Also called expectant management.

A drug used to treat hepatic veno-occlusive disease (a condition in which small veins in the liver are blocked) in patients who have kidney or lung problems after a stem cell transplant. Defibrotide sodium may affect the cells that line the inside of blood vessels and may help improve blood flow inside the liver. Also called Defitelio.

In medicine, a shortage of a substance (such as a vitamin or mineral) needed by the body.