#5 French

What does "#5 French" mean in a report or doctor's letter? In our medical dictionary, you will find a patient-friendly explanation of the meaning of this medical term.

Explanation

"#5 French" is a term used in medicine to describe the size of a tube that can be inserted into the body, such as a catheter. The French scale is a measurement system used globally, where each French unit equals roughly one-third of a millimeter. So, a "#5 French" tube would be approximately 1.7 millimeters in diameter. This size is often used for procedures involving small body cavities or vessels.

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