Useful Medical Spanish Pearls

[Tazmaniac]

I wanted to open a thread on different phrases of spanish to use with spanish-speaking patients...just as a way to learn practical spanish without taking a stupid course.

Here's some stuff I picked up from patients, and I hope they're correct:

pedos / peditos = gas (of the GI sort)
?Ha tenido pedos? = "Have you passed gas?"

attaque = seizure
attaque de nervios = anxiety attack (when using 'attaque de nervios,' claw up both your hands and they know exactly what you mean)

discucion = argument, brawl, Jerry Springer style
argumenta = peaceful debate, thoughtful discussion
Therefore: Have "argumentas" with your pacientas, not "discuciones."

-Todd MSIV USC

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[Noelle]

Pelos is hairs. Pedos is a slang form of gas which is what I think you were trying to get to. You can also use gases with a spanish accent and patient will know what you are talking aobut and isn't quite so informal.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Advanced Surgical Recall has a medical Spanish section and there are also some low cost pocket guides which are easy to carry and have the most common phrases you would use.

 

[Tazmaniac]

Originally posted by Noelle
Pelos is hairs. Pedos is a slang form of gas which is what I think you were trying to get to. You can also use gases with a spanish accent and patient will know what you are talking aobut and isn't quite so informal.

Thanks, Noelle; I corrected it on the original post. I didn't realize 'pedos' was informal, though it makes sense. We had a post-op patient in Ob/Gyn s/p hysterectomy and we wanted to ask if she passed gas. I tried "gases" but I guess my accent was horrid, and so we tried the universal finger-pointing-downward-from-the-rear gesture, to which she screamed with laughter and yelled until every patient could hear: "PEDOS? PEDITOS? TENGO LOS PEDITOS?!"

-Todd MSIV USC

 

[Green912]

Barron's "Spanish for Health Care Professionals" $11.95 at Borders. It's a great book with pronunciatons after each phrase/word.

More slowly! Mas despacio! (mahs dehs-'pah-see.oh)

 

[jvarga]

Tazmaniac, I hope I don't offend you buy suggesting you buy a book to help with your spanish. Most of the stuff you had "translated" is wrong. A "discucion" is still a peaceful discussion. Asking your patient if they had a "pedo/pedito" is the equivalent of asking them "did you fart" (not too professional sounding!) An "ataque" is literally an attack. The medically correct term for seizure is "convulsion".
I still commend you on showing an interest in spanish though, and do hope that you get a better information source so that your spanish patients may understand you in the future.

 

[Doreen]

The best book for learning medical spanish is: Medical Spanish: A Conversational Approach that comes with an audio cd by Thomas P. Kearon and Maria Antonia Dilorenzo-Kearon. The book is a little pricey but is worth it. I previously understood spanish before reading this book so it took me a few days to read it all but for those unfamiliar with Spanish, it will take 2-3 weeks to study it all.