CH 19 Patient Care and Gastrointestinal Procedures Vocabulary

A collection of essential terms and definitions from the lecture on patient care and radiographic examination of the bowel.

Auscultation

Is listening to the internal sounds of the body, usually using a stethoscope, such as heart, lungs, and the gastrointestinal system

Barium

Bulky, fine white powder, without odor or taste and free from grittiness; used as a contrast medium in radiography of the digestive tract

Bedpan

Vessel for receiving the urinary and fecal discharges of a patient unable to leave their bed

Colitis

Inflammation of the lining of the colon

Colonoscopy

Endoscopic examination of the large bowel and the distal part of the small bowel with a charge-coupled device camera or a fiberoptic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. Biopsies can be performed during the procedure. Excellent method to identify small polyps or masses

Colostomy

Surgical creation of an opening between the colon and the surface of the body; also used to refer to the opening, or stoma, that is created

Defecation

Evacuation of fecal material from the intestines

Emesis Basin

Kidney-shaped vessel for the collection of vomitus

Enema

Liquid injected or to be injected into the rectum

Enterostomal Therapist

Health professional (usually a nurse) with special training and certification in the care of ostomies and related concerns

Flatus

Gas or air evacuated through the anus

Fowler Position

Position in which the patient's head is raised $18$ or $20$ inches above the flat position; the knees are also raised

Hydration

Term used to indicate that a liquid substance contains water

Loopogram

The radiographic evaluation of the small and large bowel that has been connected to the skin surface as a substitute for the urinary bladder with an ostomy

Low-Residue Diet

Diet that gives the least possible fecal residue, such as gelatin, sucrose, dextrose, broth, and rice

Lumen

Cavity or channel within a tube or tubular organ (plural, lumina)

Nasogastric (NG) Tubes

Tubes of soft rubber or plastic inserted through a nostril and into the stomach; for instilling liquid foods or other substances or for withdrawing gastric contents

Ostomate

One who has undergone enterostomy or ureterostomy

Perineum

Region between the thighs, bound in the male by the scrotum and anus and in the female by the vulva and anus

Purgation

Catharsis; relief of fecal matter affected by a cathartic

Sigmoidoscopy

Procedure used to see inside the sigmoid colon and rectum with a flexible tube that has a camera on the end (sigmoidoscope) and is placed through the anus

Sims' Position

Position in which the patient lies on the left side with the right knee and thigh flexed and the left arm parallel along the back

Stoma

Opening established in the abdominal wall by colostomy, ileostomy, and so forth

Urinal

Vessel or other receptacle for urine (male and female types)

Virtual Colonoscopy

It is performed on a multi-slice computed tomography scanner that takes up to $600$ two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of the colon in approximately $30$ seconds

Viscosity

Physical property of liquids that determines the internal resistance to shear forces

Bowel Sounds

Internal intestinal sounds heard by auscultation