obtund
/əbˈtʌnd
/verb [with object] dated, chiefly Medicine
Dull the sensitivity of; blunt; deaden: the next step is to obtund the tissues to be operated on...
- Six hours after admission, he became abruptly hypotensive and 15 minutes later was obtunded.
- History was provided by 15 patients on admission to the hospital; 5 patients were obtunded or confused and unable to provide a history.
- The next day the patient became more obtunded, and empirical antituberculosis therapy with adjuvant glucocorticoids was started.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin obtundere, from ob- 'against' + tundere 'to beat'.