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Ductus arteriosus
Ductus arteriosus: fetal vessel linking pulmonary artery and aorta; normally closes 24-72 hours after birth via oxygen rise and prostaglandin E2 fall. Persistent patency (PDA) affects 0.3-0.8% of term infants, up to 80% of those born before 28 weeks.
Ductus venosus
Ductus venosus: fetal vessel connecting the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava, shunting oxygenated placental blood past the liver; closes after birth to form the ligamentum venosum; key Doppler marker in fetal growth restriction.
Dugdha vati (afi afi-dugdavati)
Dugdha vati (Dugdha vaṭī, AFI000014), a classical Ayurvedic herbo-mineral pill for shotha (edema), anemia, and jaundice; contains purified cinnabar, Datura metel, and Tinospora or Aconitum ferox; 60 mg dose.
Dukan Diet
Dukan Diet (Régime Dukan), a high-protein, low-carb four-phase weight loss plan by French physician Pierre Dukan, published in 2000; trials show greater 12-month weight loss than low-calorie diets but lean mass loss, and Dukan was struck off the French medical register.
Dukoral
Dukoral (WC-rBS) is an inactivated oral cholera vaccine with killed Vibrio cholerae O1 whole cells plus recombinant cholera toxin B subunit, developed in Sweden, licensed 1991, WHO prequalified 2001, given with buffer, mainly for travelers.
Dulaglutide
Dulaglutide (Trulicity), Eli Lilly's once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist injection for type 2 diabetes, approved in 2014; REWIND trial showed 12% fewer major cardiovascular events (HR 0.88) with boxed thyroid C-cell tumor warning.
Duloxetine
Duloxetine (Cymbalta), an Eli Lilly serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor approved by the FDA in 2004 for depression and later for anxiety, fibromyalgia, and diabetic nerve pain; modest short-term benefit, notable nausea and withdrawal effects.
Dumbbell
Dumbbell: a short hand-held free weight with a mass at each end, named for silent 16th-century bell-ringing practice apparatus; Greek origins, Victorian school use, adjustable modern designs, and EMG-documented stabilizer demands.
Dumping syndrome
Dumping syndrome: postprandial gastrointestinal and vasomotor symptoms from rapid gastric emptying after esophageal, gastric, or bariatric surgery; early (within 30 min) and late (hypoglycemic, 1-3 h) forms; diagnosed by modified OGTT; treated with diet, acarbose, somatostatin analogues.
Duodenal cancer
Duodenal cancer, a non-ampullary small intestinal carcinoma, is a rare adenocarcinoma of the duodenum with rising incidence, poor advanced-stage survival, and dedicated Japanese treatment guidelines from 2021 and 2025.
Duodenal erosion
Duodenal erosion (ICD-11 DA63.0): a shallow mucosal breach of the duodenum not extending through the muscularis mucosae, distinct from ulcer; may precede or accompany duodenal ulcer, diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsy.
Duodenal polyp
Duodenal polyp: mucosal or submucosal growth in the duodenum, found in 0.6–5% of upper endoscopies; adenomas (10–20%) are premalignant and removed endoscopically, with bleeding and perforation risks higher than in the colon.
Duodenal switch
The duodenal switch (BPD-DS) is a bariatric operation combining sleeve gastrectomy with intestinal bypass, giving the greatest weight loss and diabetes remission among standard procedures.
Duodenal ulcer
A duodenal ulcer is a break in the lining of the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, and a form of peptic ulcer disease.
Duodenal varices
Duodenal varices, also called duodenal varix, are ectopic portosystemic collateral veins in the duodenum from portal hypertension; rare (0.2-0.4% on endoscopy), prone to massive bleeding with up to 40% mortality, treated endoscopically or by TIPS/BRTO.
Duodenectomy
Duodenectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine, performed for tumors, trauma, and duodenal polyposis in familial adenomatous polyposis.
Duodenitis
Duodenitis is inflammation of the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Main causes are H. pylori infection, excess stomach acid, and NSAID overuse; treated with antibiotics and acid reducers.
Duodenopancreatectomy
Duodenopancreatectomy, most often called the Whipple operation or pancreaticoduodenectomy, is surgery removing the pancreatic head and duodenum, the standard treatment for pancreatic head and periampullary cancers.
Duodenoscopes
Duodenoscopes, also called ERCP endoscopes, are flexible side-viewing endoscopes passed into the duodenum for pancreatobiliary therapy; over 500,000 US ERCP procedures yearly, with reprocessing challenges and infection risk driving disposable designs.
Duodenoscopy
Duodenoscopy is the endoscopic examination of the duodenum using a flexible scope passed through the mouth; the side-viewing duodenoscope visualizes the major papilla and serves as the platform for ERCP.
Duodenostomy
Duodenostomy is a surgically created opening into the duodenum, made by placing a tube through the duodenal wall to decompress the lumen, protect a repair suture line, or drain a perforation.
Duodenum
Duodenum: first, C-shaped segment of the small intestine, 25–30 cm, from pylorus to ligament of Treitz; receives bile and pancreatic secretions via ampulla of Vater; secretes secretin, CCK, GIP; site of celiac biopsy and peptic ulcers.
Dupilumab
Dupilumab (Dupixent) is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody against IL-4Rα that blocks IL-4/IL-13 signaling. First approved 2017 for atopic dermatitis, now indicated across asthma, CRSwNP, EoE, PN, COPD, CSU, and bullous pemphigoid.
Duplex ultrasonography
Duplex ultrasonography is a diagnostic imaging technique combining B-mode vessel imaging with pulsed-wave Doppler flow measurement, the modality of choice for deep vein thrombosis and carotid stenosis.
Duplication of the pituitary gland
Duplication of the pituitary gland (DPG, hypophyseal duplication, DPG-plus syndrome) is an ultra-rare midline malformation with duplicated pituitary stalks and glands in a duplicated sella, plus craniofacial, vertebral, vascular, and endocrine anomalies.
Duplication of ureter
Duplication of ureter (duplex kidney, double ureter, ICD-11 LB31.A, ICD-10 Q62.5) is a congenital anomaly with two ureters draining one kidney; complete or incomplete forms follow the Weigert-Meyer rule and may cause reflux, ureterocele, or obstruction.
Dupuytren's contracture
Dupuytren's contracture: fibrotic thickening of palmar fascia bending fingers (ring, little) into the palm; no cure. Treatments are fasciectomy, needle fasciotomy, collagenase injection; surgery most durable, higher recurrence with needle techniques.
Dura mater
Dura mater (hard mother, pachymeninx): tough outermost meninx of brain and spinal cord, with cranial periosteal and meningeal layers forming venous sinuses and folds like the falx cerebri and tentorium.
Durable Medical Equipment
Durable medical equipment (DME) is reusable home-use medical equipment such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, and oxygen equipment, defined for Medicare by 42 CFR 414.202's five conditions and paid under Part B with 20% coinsurance.
Dural arteriovenous fistula
A dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is an abnormal artery-to-vein connection in the dura mater covering the brain or spinal cord, most common around age 50 to 60.