Outpatient Surgery Glossary of Terms

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Ambulatory: Able to walk about, not bedridden or immobile.

Amnesia: An impairment to or lack of memory. Antegrade amnesia refers to a lack of memory ...

Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before sur...

Anesthesiologist: A physician or, less often, a dentist who is specialized in the practice...

Anesthesiology: The branch of medicine specializing in the use of drugs or other agents th...

Anesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, dulling pain to permit s...

Anesthetist: A nurse or technician trained to administer anesthetics.

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Aspiration: Removal of a sample of fluid and cells through a needle. Aspiration also re...

Aspiration pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs due to aspiration.

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Asthma: A common lung disorder in which inflammation causes the bronchi to swell and narro...

Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chills: feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering. Chills may develop after exposure t...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: COPD. Any disorder that persistently obstructs bron...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Critical care: The specialized care of patients whose conditions are life-threatening and ...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

Elective: In medicine, something chosen (elected). An elective procedure is one that is ch...

Elective surgery: Surgery that is subject to choice (election). The choice may be made by ...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Epidural: Outside the dura, the outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membran...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inpatient: A patient whose care requires a stay in a hospital. As opposed to an outpatient...

Internist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and medical treatment of adults. T...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Morphine: A powerful narcotic agent that has strong analgesic (pain relief) action and oth...

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Numb: Numb, or numbness is a loss of the sensation of feeling in an area of the body. Numb...

Nurse: 1) A person trained, licensed, or skilled in nursing. 2) To feed an infant at the ...

Operating room: A facility that is equipped for performing surgery. Abbreviated OR.

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

Outpatient: A patient who is not hospitalized, but instead comes to a physician?s office, ...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pain management: The process of providing medical care that alleviates or reduces pain. Mi...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Physiology: The study of how living organisms function, including such processes as nutrit...

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneum...

Preoperative: Before surgery. As opposed to postoperative, after surgery.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Propofol: a prescription sedative-hypnotic drug (brand name Diprivan) that is administere...

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Shoulder: A structure made up of two main bones: the scapula (shoulder blade) and the hume...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

Sore throat: Pain in the throat. Sore throat may be caused by many different causes, inclu...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Tooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav...

Unconscious: 1. Interruption of awareness of oneself and one's surroundings, lack ...

Vital: Necessary to maintain life. For example, breathing is a vital function.

Vitamins: The word "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by the Warsaw-born biochemist Casimir Funk...