haematemesis
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of vomiting blood: "Haematemesis" is a medical term for the vomiting of blood. The blood may appear bright red or have a darker, coffee-ground appearance if it has been partially digested.
Usage
- Medical Context: This term is used almost exclusively in clinical, emergency, or diagnostic settings to describe a serious symptom.
- Formality: It is a formal, technical term from medical vocabulary.
Examples
- The patient was admitted to the emergency department with severe haematemesis and abdominal pain.
- Haematemesis is a common symptom of bleeding ulcers in the stomach or esophagus.
- The doctor noted that the haematemesis indicated a significant upper gastrointestinal bleed.
Advanced Usage
- While "haematemesis" specifically refers to vomiting blood, it is often discussed in contrast to melena (the passage of dark, tarry stools containing digested blood).
- In medical documentation, it is frequently quantified or described (e.g., "massive haematemesis," "coffee-ground haematemesis").
Variants and Related Words
- Hematemesis: The American English spelling, which omits the first 'a'. Both spellings are correct and used interchangeably in medical literature.
- Emesis (n): The act or instance of vomiting.
- Hemorrhage (n): Profuse bleeding, which can be a cause of haematemesis.
Synonyms
- Vomiting blood: The direct, non-technical synonym.
- Bloody vomit: A descriptive phrase for the substance itself.
Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs)
- Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding (UGIB): The broader medical condition of which haematemesis is a primary symptom.
- Peptic Ulcer Disease: A common cause of haematemesis.