spekkige koek

Dutch to English Medical Medical (general) neurosurgery

This is from a surgical report. They try to drain the hematoma with burr holes but have to perform a craniotomy instead.

“Er ontlast zich nauwelijks hematoom; zien el een zwarte spekkige koek, converteren naar craniotomie”

Does 'spekkige koek' mean the texture of the hematoma is doughy?

And what is "el"?

Thanks in advance!

Proposed translations (English)

3 +5	pool of congealed blood	Marijke Singer
2	a black greasy substance or matter	Barbara Schmidt, M.A. (X)

Discussion

Maria Danielson (asker) Apr 3, 2022: Thanks so much. I think I will use a combo of the proposed terms: black, greasy congealed blood and I'll let my client know that I'm not 100% certain.
Barend van Zadelhoff Apr 2, 2022: I think 'wel' fits better with the first part of the sentence: Er ontlast zich nauwelijks hematoom, maar we zien wel ... --> contrary to what they expected 'al' sounds a bit far-fetched.
Barend van Zadelhoff Apr 2, 2022: Not just medical people, all people. However, 'koek' is associated with blood, as the example given below shows (het bloed was tot een koek geworden), and I am quite sure that the surgeon, as a Dutch person, refers to this specific notion of 'koek'.
Kirsten Bodart Apr 2, 2022: IMO This has little to do with Van Dale as medical people have their own way of expressing things. I think 'wel' makes less sense than 'al', considering the five stages mentioned here below. It's probably a piece of thick liver-like clot. But I won't speculate.
Barend van Zadelhoff Apr 2, 2022: van Dale koek := min of meer platte, samenhangende samengeklonterde massa example: het bloed was tot een koek geworden Not sure about 'spekkig', perhaps 'sticky' zwarte spekkige koek black, sticky mass As I check daily his ears I was more as surprised to see this black sticky mass (looks like dried blood but I can be wrong) https://www.germanshepherds.com/threads/is-my-puppy-having-a...
Barend van Zadelhoff Apr 2, 2022: to paraphrase Er ontlast zich nauwelijks hematoom, maar we zien wel een zwarte spekkige koek --> converteren naar craniotomie
Barend van Zadelhoff Apr 2, 2022: 'wel' makes a lot of sense! very good suggestion
sindy cremer Apr 2, 2022: 'el' could be typo for 'wel'?
Kirsten Bodart Apr 2, 2022: I think you're correct About the texture, but I haven't got the knowledge to really be confident enough to post an answer. As to 'el', it's a typo and should say 'al', as in the blood has already coagulation, so it's not draining.

Proposed translations

1 hr

Marijke Singer

Spain

2080 answers

Native in English

Specializes in field

Selected

pool of congealed blood

I think el should be wel.

I found an interesting website about the blood drying process:
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01770001/file/FSI.pdf
"We found that the drying process can be separated into five different stages: coagulation, gelation, rim desiccation, centre desiccation, and final desiccation."
I think the blood in your case is in the gelation stage.

Peer comment(s):

agree	Barbara Schmidt, M.A. (X) 1 day 11 hrs
	Thanks, Barbara!
agree	Cillie Swart : seems plausible 1 day 11 hrs
	Thanks, Cillie!
agree	Tina Vonhof (X) : I would say a 'mass' instead of 'pool', comparatble to the 'koek' in the source. 1 day 20 hrs
	Thanks, Tina!
agree	Kitty Korner (X) 1 day 22 hrs
	Thanks, Kitty!
agree	Barend van Zadelhoff : Nice to get an agree, but let's face it KK = K57 2.0 :-)/ By the way, I agree with 'mass' instead of 'pool' (suggests liquid) and 'mass' (koek) says the source text. 'congealed blood' = safe and suggestion of 'wel' is perceptive. / No, there is no pool. 2 days 15 hrs
	Thanks! :-) My problem with mass is that yes, it is probably a mass but I think the hematoma is still leaking blood... and therefore adding to the pool.

4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks so much!"

49 mins

Barbara Schmidt, M.A. (X)

Germany

1550 answers

Specializes in field

a black greasy substance or matter

Very low confidence level. But this is what I think it is. No scientific term.

Dutch term