Anal Sphincter: a series of circular muscles, the majority of which are under voluntary control, which prevent the release of gas or stool from the anus.

Anesthesia: medications to prevent pain during surgery. There are three types: general, regional and local anesthesia (with or without sedation).

Benign: not malignant (cancerous); not recurrent; favorable for recovery

Biofeedback: a training program designed to develop one’s ability to control the involuntary nervous system. After learning the technique, you may be able to control heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and to relax certain muscles.

Biopsy: the surgical removal of tissue in order to determine an exact diagnosis.

Bowel Prep: a very strong laxative, which causes diarrhea and removes solid stool from the colon.

Brachytherapy: in radiation therapy, the use of implants or radioactive materials such as radium, cesium, iridium or gold at the site.

Catheter: a rubber, plastic or glass tube used to into the bladder in order to withdraw urine.

Clear Liquids: liquids having two characteristics; can be seen through and, at room temperature, nothing remains on a fork lifting the clear liquid. Acceptable liquids are water, sodas, Popsicles, juices (without pulp), soups (broth only), and Jello (no fruit)

Chemotherapy: treatment of infections or tumors using chemical agents.

Colonic Inertia: weak muscular activity of the colon, leading to the enlargement of the organ and constipation

Colonic Transit: the time required to excrete substances that enter and leave the colon.

Colonoscopy: a minimally invasive procedure in which the entire lining of the colon can be examined by looking directly at the lining.

Colostomy: the surgical creation of an opening between the colon and the body; also the opening so created.

Crohn’s Disease: An ulcerative condition of the small and large bowel characterized by areas of granulomas along with the ulcers.

Cryosurgery: Surgery using cold to destroy tissue or remove a tumor.

Defecography: a radiographic test of the function of the colon identifying anatomical defects during defecation.

Dehydration: the loss of water from the body.

Ductal Lavage: a minimally invasive procedure that involves collecting samples of breast cells “washed out” from the breast ducts to determine if they have malignant qualities before they develop into breast cancer.

Ductoscopy: a procedure which allows surgeons to look directly into the milk ducts of the breast enabling surgeons to assess more accurately how much tissue to remove when excising a tumor.

Dysfunctional: the disturbance, impairment or abnormality of functioning of an organ.

Endoscopy: a broad term used to describe examining the inside of the body using a lighted, flexible instrument called endoscope.

Epidural Analgesia: a form of pain control that delivers pain medicine directly to the nerves that create pain.

Excision: an act of cutting away or taking out.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: (FAP) or Gardner Syndrome. Characterized by the combination of polyps of the colon, extrabowel tumors and an abnormality of the retina of the eye. The disease is caused by a mutation in a gene and persons with the disease have a 50% chance of passing it to each of their children.

Fibroadenoma: A benign, noncancerous tumor composed of fibrous and glandular tissue. One of the most frequently encountered tumors in the breast.

Fibrocystic Disease: also known as benign cystic mastisis, painful lumps in the breast which can be relieved with minor surgery, the disease is chronic and may involve repeated visits to a surgeon for removal of lumps or fluid, is caused by an abnormal ratio of estrogen and progesterone circulating in the body during the menstrual cycle.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: A minimally invasive procedure in which the lining of the last third of the colon can be examined by directly looking at the lining.

General Anesthesia: medicine that puts the entire body “to sleep” for surgery.

General Informed Consent: a form the patient signs before surgery and after discussing the risks and benefits of surgery with the doctor.

Genetic Testing: involves the examining of a person’s DNA for some anomaly that flags a disease or disorder, also includes biochemical test for the presence of absence of key proteins that signal mutated genes.

GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition in which stomach acids reflux or accidentally “backup” from the stomach into the esophagus, you may have a harsh, burning sensation in the area between your ribs and just below your neck, the feeling may radiate through the chest and into your throat and neck.

Healthcare Provider: a doctor, nurse or other trained member of the healthcare team.

Hereditary Cancer: a cancer that is genetically transmitted from parent to child.

Hernia: a protrusion of a tissue through the wall of the cavity in which it is normally contained, often referring to an opening or weakness in the muscular structure in the wall of the abdomen. Symptoms include pain or discomfort and a localized swelling somewhere on the surface of the abdomen or in the groin area.
Femoral – located just beneath the crease of the groin.
Hiatal - a hernia of the diaphragm taking place through the opening where the esophagus passes
Inguinal – located in the groin region.
Incisional – a rupture occurring through the site of a previous operative incision.
Umbilical – one that takes place through the naval.
Ventral – one in which there is a protrusion through the abdominal wall.

Ileostomy: A surgical procedure in which the ileum (small bowel) is brought out onto the abdominal wall. Usually performed after the removal of a diseased large bowel.

Infection: The presence and growth of bacteria, viruses or parasites in the body. (include signs briefly)

Incision: a surgical cut.

Incontinence: inability to control excretory functions.
Fecal: failure of the control of the anal sphincters, with involuntary bowel movements and passage of gas.
Urinary: the unintentional loss of urine. In women may develop during pregnancy and childbirth, or
after the hormonal changes of menopause. In men can be the result of prostate surgery.

Inflammation: A protective reaction by tissues to injury or destruction of tissues; signs of acute inflammation include pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a group of chronic intestinal diseases characterized by inflammation of the bowel; symptoms include abdominal pain and course may be unpredictable; most common types are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

Inherited Susceptibility: an individual’s chances of inheriting a gene mutation responsible for a disease usually a type of cancer, inherited susceptibility does not guarantee that cancer will occur, there is an increases chance of developing cancer if other factors are present.

Inpatient: a patient who is admitted to the hospital before surgery and who remains in the hospital for some time after surgery.

Intravenous or IV infusion: the delivery of medications, fluids or blood directly into the bloodstream through an IV tube that is inserted into a vein.

Intravenous PCA Pump: a patient-controlled device that delivers pain medicine directly into the bloodstream.

J-Pouch: an ileoanal reservoir; an internal pouch formed of small intestine that provides a storage place for stool in the absence of the large intestine

Kegel Exercises: exercises developed to help strengthen weakened pelvic muscles attributed to pregnancy, childbirth and in some cases bladder control problems.

Laparoscopic: a type of surgery in which a small incision or cut is made in the abdominal wall through which an instrument (a laparoscope) is placed to permit structures within the abdomen and pelvis to be seen and allow for the performance of surgical procedures with the need for a large surgical incision.

Local Anesthesia: medicine that numbs the area of surgery to prevent pain.

Lumpectomy: the local removal of a tumor of mass; such as excision of a lump in the breast

Malignant: dangerous to life; cancerous

Mesh Plug: a procedure for hernia repair, a small cut is made directly over the site of the hernia and shped pieces of fine, sterile mesh are inserted and remain inside the body permanently to reinforce the weakened areas, no permanent internal stitches are used.

Minimally Invasive: a surgical operation performed, with the help of a small endoscopic camera and several long, thin, rigid instruments, through natural body openings or small artificial incisions; advantages include less pain, faster recovery, smaller injuries and shorter illness time; endoscopic surgery.

Oncology: the science of tumors.

OR: Abbreviation for “operating room”.

Outpatient: patient admitted the day of surgery and discharged the same day.

Pancreatitis: inflammation of the pancreas; there are several types: 1. acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, sometimes associated with hemorrhage, shack and death. 2. chronic interstitial pancreatitis associated with indigestion, inability to properly digest stool, foul-smelling stools, etc.

Pathology: the branch of medicine dealing with the nature of disease on the basis of examination of diseased tissue; p. report, a document that helps characterize specimens taken during surgical procedure and determine treatment.

PCA Pump: Patient Controlled Analgesia, a method of giving pain medication to patients that involves patient participation, the system uses a pump that has a medication syringe locked in and can be programmed to deliver either measured amounts of the pain medication or a continuous infusion or both through an intravenous line.

Percutaneous: Through the skin.

Polyp: Any growth or mass, usually nonmalignant, protruding from a mucous membrane.

Polypectomy: excision of a polyp.

Proctoscopy: an endoscopic examination of the rectum; used to localize, identify, and photograph pathologic alterations, to biopsy material and perform other surgical procedures, and for the delivery of medication.

Psychosocial: term used to underline the close relationship between psychological and social effects of a patient’s illness.

Radiation Therapy: the use of high energy rays or particles used to treat cancer and other illnesses, radiation is aimed at tumors or areas of the body where there is disease.

Radiofrequency Ablation: (RFA) Therapy of the liver that involves destruction of the liver. Heat is generated locally by a high frequency, alternating current that flows from electrodes. A probe is inserted into the tumor and the heat that is generated melts the tissue. Your surgeon may perform this procedure laparoscopically or during open exploration of the abdomen.

Referral: the recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional; can refer both to the act of sending a patient to another doctor or therapist, and to the actual paper authorizing the visit.

Referring Doctor: in HMO’s or other managed care programs, the primary care physician (PCP) responsible for recommending a patient to another medical professional or specialist.

Regional Anesthesia: medicine that numbs certain areas of the body to prevent pain during surgery.

Same-Day Admission Patient: a patient admitted the day of surgery who remains in the hospital after surgery.

Sedative: a drug that is given to calm the nerves and decrease a state of excitement.

Sphincteroplasty: surgical repair of a defective sphincter.

Stereotactic: pertaining to precise positioning in space, causing movement in response to touch or physical contact

Suture: to stitch tissue surgically; to sew a wound or cut.

Stricturoplasty: surgical procedure for widening a structured segment of the intestine that involves incision and closure in opposing directions.

Syndrome: a combination of signs and symptoms that occur together and reflect a particular disease.

TEM: Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery; a surgical procedure that involves removal of early or superficial rectal cancers through the anus, tumors must be non-aggressive and unattached to nearby blood or lymphatic vessels.

Transanal Excision: A surgical procedure with allows for local excision of rectal cancer without an abdominal excision, reserved for patients with very early stages of cancer.

Tumor: a swelling; a new growth of tissue, either cancerous or non-cancerous, in which cell multiplication is uncontrolled and progressive.

Ulcerative Colitis: chronic ulceration of the colon, chiefly of the mucosa and submucosa, associated with cramping abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, anemia, and weight loss.

Ultrasound: A radiology technique, which uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the organs and structures of the body. The test is painless and harmless involves no radiation.