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syphilitic aortitis

Inflammation of the aorta occuring in tertiary, or third stage, syphilis.

syringobulbia

A neurological disease in which fluid-filled cavities form in the brainstem.

syringomyelia

A disorder in which a fluid-filled cavity or cyst forms in the spinal cord.

system sclerosis

A systemic autoimmune disease.

systemic

Affecting the whole body.

systemic lupus erythematosus

A chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of connective tissue.

systemic mastocytosis

An uncommon condition involving the mast cells of the body,which are located in connective tissue.

senescence

The condition or process of deterioration with age / The loss of a cell’s power of division and growth.

subdural

A layer of the brain; in between the outer most membrane (dura) and the middle membrane (arachnoid).

subarachnoid

A layer of the brain; in between the innermost membrane (pia) and the middle membrane (arachnoid).

stromal

Relating to the type of supportive tissues surrounding organs and tissues.

spectroscopic

An optical device for producing and observing a spectrum of light or radiation from any source.

Sentinel event

Sentinel events are defined by the The Joint Commission (TJC) in the USA as, "any unanticipated event in a healthcare setting resulting in death or serious physical or psychological injury to a patient or patients, not related to the natural course of the patient's illness. Sentinel events specifically include loss of a limb or gross motor function, and any event for which a recurrence would carry a risk of a serious adverse outcome."

These events include, "unexpected occurrences involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof" and all of the following, even if the outcome was not death or major permanent loss of function:

  • Infant abduction, or discharge to the wrong family.
  • Unexpected death of a full-term infant.
  • Severe neonatal jaundice (bilirubin over 30 milligrams/deciliter).
  • Surgery on the wrong individual or wrong body part.
  • Instrument or object left in a patient after surgery or another procedure.
  • Rape in an acute-care setting.
  • Suicide in an acute-care setting, or within 72 hours of discharge.
  • Haemolytic transfusion reaction due to blood group incompatibilities.[1]
  • Radiation therapy to the wrong body region or 25% above the planned dose.

The clinical laboratory organisation, Dark Daily suggest that this list should also include 'misdiagnosis' and other preventable diagnostic errors.