Glossary for Case Study 2

0.5% Marcaine

dictated “half percent”; brand name for local anesthetic

19-French

French is a scale used to denote catheter sizes and other tubular instruments; each unit is approximately 0.33 mm in diameter; 19-French indicates a diameter of approximately 6.2 mm

89% shift

“shift to the left” on CBC differential indicates an increase in the number of band cells or bands; 89% represents the percentage of band cells compared to the total number of white cells counted; this often indicates acute infection

anorexia

diminished appetite; aversion to food

appendicitis

infection or inflammation of the vermiform appendix

• (a small, worm-like structure attached to the first part of the large intestine)

auscultation

the act of listening for sounds within the body

benzoin

a topical anesthetic, generic name

Blake drain

silicone drain placed in wound to encourage drainage of fluids from wound

cecum

any blind pouch; used to describe the closed end of the large intestine

clot

a soft mass formed when a liquid (blood or lymph) thickens

clubbing

a condition of thickening and widening of the fingers and toes with abnormally curved nails

colonoscopy

examination by means of a flexible, elongated scope that permits visual examination of the colon

contrast

chemical substances introduced in radiography to increase the difference between different tissue types or between abnormal and normal tissues

coronal reconstructions

term used in CT scanning to mean three-dimensional view looking at the image from the front of the body

CPT Code A 88304

Current Procedural Terminology)—a set of codes that describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services; Code A 88304 is the CPT code for surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination

cranial nerves

referred to by either roman or arabic numerals (2 through 12 or II through XII), the 12 pairs of nerves connected with the brain; ____ _____ 1 or I (olfactory) is not always included in the routine physical examination

crystalloid

a hydration solution containing only electrolytes

CT scan

a procedure in which x-ray images are analyzed and combined by a computer to yield views representing thin slices of the parts examined

cyanosis

bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membrane due to deficient oxygenation of the blood

degenerative joint disease

arthritis characterized by softening and fraying of the cartilage and mainly affecting weight-bearing joints

desufflated

air or gas removed from a cavity or chamber of the body

dilatation

stretching or enlarging an opening of a hollow structure

edema, extremity

swelling of the extremity

electronically signed

a statement that specifies the physician has electronically signed the report; this statement is added to the end of a report by a computerized system when the physician “signs” the report by pressing a certain key

emesis

vomiting, the result of vomiting

Endo Catch bag

a bag used in laparoscopic surgeries to remove the resected specimen (see laparoscopic appendectomy)

extraocular motions

eye movements; these are examined by having the patient look in all directions without moving the head

fibrinous

pertaining to or composed of fibrin

fistula

an abnormal passage between two organs in the body or between an organ and the outside of the body

fistulogram

radiograph after infusion of the fistula with contrast material

flatus

gas or air in the gastrointestinal tract passed through the anus

Foley catheter

tube that is passed into the bladder through the urethra to collect urine

free air

air in the abdomen, not trapped within tissues, as a result of perforation of a hollow organ

gentamicin

generic antibiotic used to treat many types of infections; sometimes dictated “gent” as medical jargon

guarding

tensing of muscles in response to touch

Hasson trocar

a blunt instrument used to enter the abdominal cavity; used for insufflation and introduction of laparoscope

hemicolectomy

removal of half (right or left side) of the colon

hemorrhagic

(adj.) relating to or marked by hemorrhage

hepatobiliary

related to the liver and bile or biliary ducts

illicit

unlawful

in toto

entirely, in the whole

inflammatory bowel disease

general term for disorders of the small and large intestine

integument

enveloping membrane of the body, including skin, hair, and nails

JP drain

suction drain with tubing inside the body and a bulb reservoir which, when squeezed empty, applies suction and pulls fluid out of the body; used in thoracic or abdominal surgery

JVD

jugular venous distension or distension of the neck veins

Kelly clamp

a curved instrument used for arresting hemorrhage by compression of the bleeding vessel

laparoscopic appendectomy

removal of vermiform appendix using several scopes placed into the abdomen as opposed to using a right lower quadrant abdominal incision (see open appendectomy)

LFTs

liver function tests (clinical lab panel)

localized

restricted or limited to a definite part

lymphadenopathy

disease of lymph nodes; enlargement of lymph nodes, which may indicate infection

cervical lymphadenopathy

enlargement of lymph nodes on the back of the neck

supraclavicular lymphadenopathy

enlargement of lymph nodes above the collar bones

axillary lymphadenopathy

enlargement of lymph nodes in the armpit

inguinal lymphadenopathy

enlargement of lymph nodes in the groin

McBurney sign

tenderness at a point on the abdomen that indicates appendicitis

mesoappendix

fold of tissue attaching the appendix to the small bowel

necrotic

dead as in dead tissue

necrotizing

causing death of cells

normocephalic

(adj.) pertaining to a normal-sized head

obturator sign

pain in the lower abdomen or inside of thigh when the hip is flexed and internally rotated; a sign of appendicitis

open appendectomy

referring to making an incision in the abdomen (open) to remove the vermiform appendix as opposed to laparoscopic surgery, which would require no incision

OR

operating room

osseous

of the nature or quality of bone; bony

p.o.

Latin abbreviation meaning by mouth (per os)

PAR

postanesthesia recovery, where patients are sent immediately after surgery (the recovery room); each letter is pronounced separately

pedal pulses

the two arterial pulses able to be felt in the foot; one pulse is on the arch of the foot and the other is on the back of the ankle

periappendiceal

around the appendix

pericecal

around the cecum

perioperative antibiotics

antibiotics given either immediately before or immediately after a surgical procedure

phlegmon

a spreading inflammatory reaction to infection that can form multiple pus pockets

piroxicam

generic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (brand name, Feldene)

pneumoperitoneum

air within the peritoneal cavity

psoas sign

flexion of or pain on hyperextension of the hip caused by contact of the psoas muscle plus inflammation; often seen in appendicitis

purulent

containing, consisting, or forming pus

radiate

to spread out in all directions from a center, such as pain ______ from the abdomen

rebound

when the abdomen is pressed, then released, more pain is felt upon release than when it is applied

representative sections

in gross pathology, pieces of tissue that represent the overall appearance of the specimen

RLQ

right lower quadrant (of the abdomen)

saturations 96%

blood oxygen saturation is measured in percentages with 100% being the most saturated

SCDs

sequential compression devices; devices that are wrapped around the legs and inflate and deflate to prevent blood clots in the legs

seminal vesicles

structures in the male about two inches long, located behind the bladder; they contribute fluid to the ejaculate

Steri-Strips

brand name sterile skin closure strips that are made of a porous, nonwoven backing coated with a pressure-sensitive, hypoallergenic adhesive and reinforced with polyester filaments for added strength

supine

lying on the back with the face upward

terminal ileum

the end of the small intestine

thrills

large areas of sustained outward motion of the chest felt when performing a heart examination (percussion)

thyromegaly

enlargement of the thyroid gland

TM

tympanic membrane, the eardrum; the membrane separating the external from the middle ear

vermiform appendix

a small, tube-like structure attached to the first part of the large intestine

WNL

within normal limits