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Glite Dictionary
hepatic coma

hepatic coma

7.8
A deep unconscious state caused by severe liver disease
  • noun
  • /hɪˈpætɪk ˈkoʊmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : coma hepático
  • The patient lapsed into a hepatic coma after suffering from chronic liver failure.

Examples

  • Early detection of symptoms can sometimes prevent progression to hepatic coma.

  • Doctors monitored her closely for signs of hepatic coma following her diagnosis of severe cirrhosis.

  • The patient slipped into hepatic coma after weeks of liver failure.

  • Doctors diagnosed him with hepatic coma due to alcohol abuse.

  • Doctors monitored her closely for signs of hepatic coma following her diagnosis of severe cirrhosis.

  • Early detection of symptoms can sometimes prevent progression to hepatic coma.

  • The patient lapsed into a hepatic coma after suffering from chronic liver failure.

Synonyms

coma
vshepatic coma
  • Specialized
259 5.4

A deep unconscious state when a person cannot be woken

is caused specifically by severe liver failure and toxin buildup

Surface Forms

hepatic coma singular
hepatic comas plural

Morphology

hepatic + coma

The meaning — a coma caused by liver dysfunction — is directly and compositionally derived from 'hepatic' (liver-related) + 'coma' (deep unconsciousness). This medical compound follows transparent compounding patterns (and has clear parallels in many languages), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The term hepatic coma shows the cause: hepatic refers to the liver, and when the liver cannot remove harmful substances the brain can stop working and the person may fall into a coma. So, hepatic coma means 'a coma caused by severe liver disease'.