What it means
A tool, often a set of rods or tubes in graded sizes, passed one after another to open a passage gently. Examples are cervical dilators (such as Hegar or Pratt dilators), urethral sounds and esophageal dilators. Vaginal dilators are used at home after pelvic radiation or surgery. A drug that widens a vessel or airway is a vasodilator or bronchodilator.
For the nurse
In surgery, dilators are kept in size order on the back table and handed up from smallest to largest.
At a glance
| Also written | dilators |
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