hemodilution: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “hemodilution” mean?
The process of decreasing the concentration of red blood cells and other blood components in the bloodstream by adding fluid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of decreasing the concentration of red blood cells and other blood components in the bloodstream by adding fluid.
A deliberate medical procedure to dilute a patient's blood, often used in surgery to reduce the need for blood transfusions, or a natural physiological state of reduced blood component concentration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'haemodilution' is the standard British spelling, 'hemodilution' is standard American. The term is equally technical and used in identical medical contexts in both regions.
Connotations
None beyond the technical medical procedure or condition.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, but standard and equally frequent in the medical literature and practice of both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “hemodilution” in a Sentence
The patient underwent deliberate hemodilution.Hemodilution was induced prior to the procedure.The study measured the effects of acute hemodilution.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hemodilution” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team decided to haemodilute the patient to minimise transfusion risk.
- The protocol does not recommend haemodiluting elderly patients.
American English
- The surgeon chose to hemodilute the patient to minimize transfusion risk.
- The protocol does not recommend hemodiluting elderly patients.
adjective
British English
- The haemodilutional effect was carefully monitored.
- They used a haemodilution technique.
American English
- The hemodilutional effect was carefully monitored.
- They used a hemodilution technique.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and physiological research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in surgical plans, anesthesiology, transfusion medicine, and clinical physiology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hemodilution”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hemodilution”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemodilution”
- Misspelling (e.g., 'hemodilation', 'haemodulation').
- Confusing with 'hemodialysis' (a different blood-cleaning procedure).
- Using in non-medical contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When performed deliberately and monitored by medical professionals, it is a controlled and generally safe procedure. Unintended or extreme hemodilution can be dangerous, leading to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity.
Hemodilution is a decrease in the concentration of cells and proteins in the blood; hemoconcentration is an increase, often due to fluid loss.
Yes, but it's rare and extreme. Excessive water intake in a short time can lead to a dangerous condition called 'water intoxication' or 'hyponatremia,' which involves hemodilution of blood salts (electrolytes).
No. Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemodilution is a reduction in concentration due to an increase in plasma volume. A hemodiluted person may have a normal total number of red cells, but they are diluted in a larger fluid volume.
The process of decreasing the concentration of red blood cells and other blood components in the bloodstream by adding fluid.
Hemodilution is usually technical / medical in register.
Hemodilution: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhiːmə(ʊ)daɪˈluːʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhiːmoʊdɪˈluːʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HEMO (blood) + DILUTION (making thinner/weaker) = thinning of the blood.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOOD IS A FLUID / SOLUTION. Hemodilution conceptualizes blood as a solution where the cellular components can be made less concentrated by adding more solvent (plasma substitute).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary goal of deliberate intraoperative hemodilution?