Osler, Sir William


Osler, Sir William

(os'ler) Canadian-born physician, 1849–1919, he is considered a leading figure in contemporary medicine, diagnosis, and the humanitarian care of patients. During his career he was associated with McGill, Johns Hopkins, and Oxford Universities, where he prepared a number of editions of his monumental The Principles and Practice of Medicine.

Osler maneuver

A physical examination technique used to identify pseudohypertension. The brachial or radial artery is compressed manually or with a blood pressure cuff inflated above detectable systolic pressures, and the artery is palpated distally. If the distal artery has a palpable pulse, pseudohypertension is present. The maneuver has poor reproducibility.

Osler nodes

Small, tender cutaneous nodes, usually present in the fingers and toes, that may be seen in subacute bacterial endocarditis. The nodes are caused by emboli dislodged from infected heart valves. See: infective endocarditis for illus.

Osler,

Sir William, Canadian physician in U.S. and England, 1849-1919. Osler disease - a chronic form of polycythemia. Synonym(s): polycythemia veraOsler node - a tender cutaneous lesion characteristic of subacute bacterial endocarditis.Osler sign - in acute bacterial endocarditis, circumscribed painful erythematous swelling in the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the hands and feet.Osler II syndrome - recurrent episodes of colic pain. Synonym(s): ball-valve gallstoneOsler triadRendu-Osler-Weber syndrome - see under Rendu