New Hampshire Medical Surgical Weight Loss Program Glossary

Surgical Weight Loss Home              

• Acute 
  Urgent or severe situation or disease            
  
• Adhesion 
  The joining or sticking together of parts of an organ that are not normally joined together            
  
• Anastamosis 
  Surgical, traumatic, or pathological formation of an opening between two normally distinct spaces or organs            
  
• Anemia 
  Condition of low red blood cells in bloodstream            
  
• Aortic Aneurism 
  An abnormal blood-filled dilatation of the aortic artery resulting from disease of the vessel wall            
  
• Asthma 
  A chronic respiratory disease, often arising from allergies, that is characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing            
  
• B12 
  A vitamin involved in the metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates; normal blood            
  
• Bariatric Coordinator 
  Bariatric Program Manager, usually an RN who coordinates care and education for the bariatric patient            
  
• Bariatrics 
  The branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity            
  
• Behavioral 
  The actions or reactions of a person or animal in response to external or internal stimuli            
  
• BMI 
  Body Mass Index measured as the ratio height to weight (kilograms/meters2 )            
  
• Bowel 
  Referring to the small or large intestines            
  
• BRFSS 
  Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is the world’s largest, on-going telephone health survey system, tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the United States yearly since 1989            
  
• Calcium 
  The calcium 2+ ion is involved in many physiologic processes            
  
• Carbohydrate 
  Any of various compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (as sugars, starches, and celluloses            
  
• Cardiovascular 
  Of, relating to, or involving the heart and the blood vessels            
  
• CABG 
  Coronary artery bypass graft.  Performed to improve blood supply to the heart            
  
• CHF 
  Chronic Heart Failure            
  
• Cholesterol 
  A white crystalline substance, C27H45OH, found in animal tissues and various foods, that is normally synthesized by the liver and is important as a constituent of cell membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones. Its level in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease 
  
• Chronic 
  Long-term situation or disease            
  
• Cirrhosis 
  A chronic disease of the liver characterized by the replacement of normal tissue with fibrous tissue and the loss of functional liver cells            
  
• Co-morbidity 
  A condition that exists in relation to or in addition to another condition            
  
• Compliance 
  A term used to describe how well a patient's behavior follows medical advice            
  
• Complication 
  A process or event occurring during a disease that is not an essential part of the disease; it may result from the disease or from independent causes            
  
• Constipation 
  Acute or chronic condition in which bowel movements occur less often than usual            
  
• Consultation 
  A visit with a medical professional to share knowledge and expectations            
  
• Deficiency 
  An insufficient level of a substance or circumstance            
  
• Dehydration 
  Referring to a dangerously low level of fluids in the body            
  
• Diabetes 
  Any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive discharge of urine and persistent thirst, especially one of the two types of diabetes mellitus            
  
• Diagnosis 
  Process of identifying an issue, disease or event            
  
• Diarrhea 
  Loose or liquid bowel movement or stool            
  
• Diet 
  The usual food and drink of a person or animal            
  
• Dilatation 
  The condition of being stretched beyond normal dimensions especially as a result of overwork or disease or of abnormal relaxation            
  
• Distal 
  Referring to the distant or far end of a structure or from a structure            
  
• Dumping syndrome 
  Nausea, weakness, sweating, palpitation, syncope, often a sensation of warmth, and sometimes diarrhea, occurring after ingestion of food in patients who have undergone partial gastrectomy            
  
• Duodenal Switch 
  A surgical treatment for morbid obesity consisting of resection of the greater curvature of the stomach, leaving in place the pylorus and a little of the duodenum, which are anastomosed to the ileum. The rest of the duodenum and jejunum simply empty their secretions into the distal ileum through a new anastamosis            
  
• Duodenum 
  The beginning portion of the small intestine, starting at the lower end of the stomach and extending to the jejunum            
  
• DVT 
  Deep vein thrombosis: a blood clot in a major vein, usually in the legs and/or pelvis            
  
• Dysfunction 
  Not operating properly            
  
• Emboli 
  A mass, such as an air bubble, a detached blood clot, or a foreign body, that travels through the bloodstream and lodges so as to obstruct a blood vessel (plural of embolus)            
  
• Endocrine 
  Of or relating to endocrine glands or the hormones secreted by them            
  
• Environmental 
  Relating to influences or conditions present in a physical space            
  
• Epidemic 
  Widely prevalent            
  
• Erosion 
  Referring to a complication of gastric banding where the plastic band wears through the anatomy of the esophagus and/or gastric pouch            
  
• Esophagus 
  Tubular upper digestive section leading from the mouth to the stomach            
  
• Excess Body Weight 
  Amount of weight above the individual's ideal body weight            
  
• Exercise 
  Manual activity that develops or maintains physical fitness and overall health            
  
• Fat 
  Along with carbohydrates and proteins, one of the three nutrients used as energy sources by the body            
  
• Fills 
  Referring to adding or withdrawing (adjusting) fluid from the gastric band as is clinically indicated to modify food passage            
  
• Gallbladder 
  A small, pear-shaped muscular sac, located under the right lobe of the liver, in which bile secreted by the liver is stored until needed by the body for digestion            
  
• Gallstones 
  A gallstone is a solid crystal deposit that forms in the gallbladder. Gallstones can migrate to other parts of the digestive tract and cause severe pain with life-threatening complications            
  
• Gastrectomy 
  Surgical removal of all or part of the stomach            
  
• Gastrointestinal 
  Of or relating to the stomach and intestines            
  
• Gastroplasty 
  Surgical repair or modification of the stomach or lower esophagus            
  
• Genitourinary 
  Of or relating to the genital and urinary organs or their function            
  
• GERD 
  Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease            
  
• Gout 
  A disturbance of uric-acid metabolism occurring chiefly in males, characterized by painful inflammation of the joints, especially of the feet and hands.  Can result in deformity            
  
• Hyperlipidemia 
  High cholesterol            
  
• Hypertension 
  High blood pressure            
  
• Ileum 
  The third and final section of the small intestine            
  
• Incision  
  A cut or a wound made by cutting with a sharp instrument            
  
• Incisional hernia 
  Protrusion of a portion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening cause by an incision            
  
• Infection 
  A disease caused by the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms            
  
• Integumentary 
  A natural outer covering or coat, such as the skin of an animal or the membrane enclosing an organ 
             
  Intermittent 
  Stopping and starting at intervals            
  
• Iron 
  A common metallic element essential for the synthesis of some blood elements            
  
• JAMA 
  Journal of the American Medical Association            
  
• Jejunoileal Bypass  
  Surgical modification of intestinal tract to bypass part or all of the upper part of the small intestine            
  
• Jejunum 
  The section of the small intestine between the duodenum and the ileum            
  
• Laparoscopic 
  A minimally-invasive surgical or diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible endoscope (laparoscope) to view and operate on structures in the abdomen            
  
• Malabsorption 
  Defective or inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract            
  
• Median 
  In statistics, a value in an ordered set of values below and above which there is an equal number of values            
  
• Metabolic 
  The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are synthesized            
  
• Morbid 
  Relating to conditions of illness or leading to illness            
  
• Morbid Obesity 
  More than 100 lbs greater than normal body weight or a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or above with significant associated health issues.            
  
• Mortality 
  Relating to death            
  
• Multi-disciplinary Team 
  A group of professionals from various specialties, educational or training backgrounds working together for a common goal            
  
• Multi-factorial 
  Caused by more than one influence            
  
• Nausea 
  An unpleasant sensation with a tendency to vomit            
  
• Nurse 
  Degreed medical professional licensed to provide care to patients            
  
• Nurse Practitioner 
  A healthcare provider with advanced medical degree licensed to provide care and prescribe some medications to patients            
  
• Obesity 
  Relating to weight greater than healthy weight            
  
• Osteoarthritis 
  Chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints            
  
• Palpitation 
  Rapid, forceful, throbbing, or fluttering heartbeat            
  
• Pancreatitis 
  Inflammation of the pancreas            
  
• Pathogenic 
  Referring to a substance or event leading to illness            
  
• PCP 
  Primary Care Provider (i.e. Family Physician, Internist, Obstetrician, etc.)            
  
• PE 
  Pulmonary Embolus: Blockage of an artery of the lung by foreign matter such as fat, tumor, tissue, or a clot originating from a vein            
  
• Pharmacotherapy 
  The practice of treating diseases with medication            
  
• Phenomenon 
  An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by the senses            
  
• Physical Therapist 
  Medical professional trained to treat and improve physical limitations            
  
• Physiologic 
  Relating to the biological functioning of an organism            
  
• Postoperative 
  The period after an operation            
  
• Preoperative 
  The period before an operation            
  
• Prevalence 
  The total number of cases of a disease in a given population at a specific time            
  
• Protein 
  Proteins are one of the 3 types of nutrients used as energy sources by the body.  The other 2 being carbohydrates and fats            
  
• Proximal 
  Referring to the close or near end of a structure or to a structure            
  
• Psychologist 
  Medical professional, usually  with doctoral degree (i.e. Ph.D.) specializing in education in behavioral topics and treatment of psychological-related issues            
  
• Psychosocial 
  Involving aspects of social and psychological behavior            
  
• Pulmonary 
  Of, relating to, or affecting the lungs            
  
• Pylorus 
  The passage at the lower end of the stomach that opens into the duodenum            
  
• Reflux 
  Flowing backwards            
  
• Registered Dietitian 
  Specialist in diet and nutrition            
  
• Resection 
  Removal of a portion or all of an organ or other structure            
  
• Revision 
  A re-operation to modify or correct a previous procedure            
  
• Satiety 
  Feeling of fullness or satisfaction during or after eating            
  
• SBO 
  Small Bowel Obstruction.  An obstruction of the small intestine that prevents the free passage of material; sometimes caused by postoperative adhesions            
  
• Self-pay 
  A situation where an individual pays for a procedure versus relying on reimbursement from an insurance policy            
  
• Sleep apnea 
  A temporary suspension of breathing occurring repeatedly during sleep that often affects overweight people or those having an obstruction in the breathing tract, an abnormally small throat opening, or a neurological disorder            
  
• Sleeve Gastrectomy 
  Surgical procedure to remove approximately 85% of the stomach, leaving a tubular-shaped organ between the bottom of the esophagus and the pyloric junction.  Most commonly performed as a weight-loss procedure.            
  
• Slippage 
  Referring to movement of the gastric band's position relative to the esophagus and stomach            
  
• SRC 
  Surgical Review Corporation.  A division of the American Academy of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons            
  
• Stenosis 
  A narrowing of a normally open passage            
  
• Support group 
  Gathering of individuals with related questions, issues, needs.  Usually led by a medical professional or other trained professional            
  
• Sustained Weight Loss 
  Long-term consistent weight loss            
  
• Syncope 
  Dizziness, near fainting episode            
  
• Therapeutic 
  Referring to treatment of an issue, disease or event            
  
• Trend 
  The general direction in which something tends to move            
  
• Ulcer 
  Damage to a surface such as the lining the stomach or duodenum, that is sometimes accompanied by formation of death of surrounding tissue            
  
• Ultrasound 
  The use of ultrasonic waves for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes            
  
• Urinary Incontinence 
  Inability to control urinary functions