General
crump
What does crump mean?
To take a rapid turn for the worse; a patient who seemed stable whose vital signs suddenly collapse.
"The patient in three crumped overnight and went to the ICU."
Origin
Expressive coinage in emergency and hospital use; onomatopoeic sense of collapsing.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean when a patient crumps?
It means they deteriorate suddenly and severely — a patient who seemed stable whose condition rapidly collapses.
Is 'crump' a formal medical term?
No, it's informal hospital slang, not a term you'd write in a formal note.
How is 'crump' used?
Usually as a verb, as in 'the patient crumped overnight and went to the ICU.'
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