Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

shortness of breath. Once the damage

to the lungs has occurred, there is no

treatment that can reverse it. Stopping

smoking will reduce the rate at which

the lungs deteriorate.

emphysema, surgicalThe abnormal

presence of air in tissues under the skin

following surgery or injury.

empirical treatmentTreatment given

because its effectiveness has been ob-

served in previous, similar cases rather

than because there is an understanding

of the nature of the disorder and the

way the treatment works.

empyemaAn accumulation of pusin a

body cavity or in certain organs. Empye-

ma can occur around a lung as a rare

complication of an infection such as

pneumoniaor pleurisy. The main symp-

toms are chest pain, breathlessness,

and fever. Treatment is by aspiration(re-

moval of the pus by suction) and the

injection of antibiotic drugs, or by an

operation to open the chest cavity and

drain the pus. Empyema of the gallblad-

dermay occur as a complication of

cholecystitis, when it causes abdominal

pain, fever, and jaundice. It is treated by

surgical removal of the gallbladder.

emulsifying ointmentA type of emol-

lientcontaining emulsifying wax, white

Electrical activity is measured during

muscle contraction and at rest; either

small disc electrodes are attached to

the skin over the muscle, or needle

electrodes are inserted into the muscle.

The impulses are displayed on a screen.

EMLAAn abbreviation for eutetic mix-

ture of local anaesthetics. This is a

cream that is applied to the skin to

produce local anaesthesia (see anaes-

thesia, local). EMLA is used to reduce

discomfort before intravenousinjection

and venepuncture, particularly in chil-

dren, and in skin grafting.

emollientA substance such as lanolin

or petroleum jelly that has a soothing

and softening effect when applied to

the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Emollients are used in creams, oint-

ments, nasal sprays, and suppositories.

emotional deprivationLack of suffi-

cient loving attention and of warm,

trusting relationships during a child’s

early years, so that normal emotional

development is inhibited. Emotional

deprivation may result if bondingdoes

not occur in the early months of life.

Emotionally deprived children may be

impulsive, crave attention, be unable to

cope with frustration, and may have im-

paired intellectual development.

emotional problemsA common term

for a range of psychological difficulties,

often related to anxietyor depression,

which may have various causes.

empathyThe ability to understand and

share the thoughts and feelings of

another person. In psychoanalysis,the

therapist partly relies on empathy to

establish a relationship with a patient.

emphysemaA disease in which the

walls of the air sacs in the lungs, known

as alveoli (see alveolus, pulmonary), are

progessively destroyed, thus reducing

the area of lung available for exchange

of gases. Emphysema usually develops

along with chronic bronchitis, in a con-

dition known as chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease. In almost all cases,

emphysema is due to smoking. Rarely,

an inherited deficiency of a chemical

known as alpha 1 -antitrypsin results in

tissue damage, particularly in the lungs

and liver. As the disease progresses,

damage to the alveoli causes increasing

EMLA EMULSIFYING OINTMENT

E

NORMAL AIR SACS

LOCATION

AIR SACS IN EMPHYSEMA

Small air

spaces

Enlarged

air spaces

EMPHYSEMA