Surgery definitions

Question 1

AAA - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Answer 1

AAA- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - A berry like or diffuse swelling in the artery, usually at or near a branch and caused by localised damage or weakness to the vessel wall in the abdominal aorta.

Question 2

Anastamosis

Answer 2

Anastamosis - Surgical joining of the ducts blood vessels or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another

Question 3

Anterior resection of the colon

Answer 3

Anterior resection of the colon - Excision of the sigmoid colon and upper rectum with end to end anastamosis

Question 4

BKA- Below the Knee Amputation

Answer 4

BKA- Below the Knee Amputation - Amputation of the leg below the knee

Question 5

CBD- Common Bile Duct

Answer 5

CBD- Common Bile Duct - Carries bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum

Question 6

Colostomy

Answer 6

An artificial anus on the front wall of the abdomen, formed when the cut upper end of the colon is brought to the exterior. This is often necessary when the colon has to be cut through as in the treatment of cancer. They can be temporary although some are permanent if the rectum or lower colon has been removed

Question 7

Debridement

Answer 7

a) The surgical removal of all contaminated tissue such as the edges of wounds until healthy tissue is exposed

Question 8

DHS- Dynamic Hip Screw

Answer 8

Insertion of an orthopaedic screw to stabilise certain types of hip fractures

Question 9

Embolectomy

Answer 9

Embolectomy - Surgical removal from a blood vessel or a blood clot or other obstruction which has been carried to this site in the bloodstream

Question 10

ERCP- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Answer 10

This is an x-ray or other imaging examination of the bile ducts usually after a fluid substance opaque in radiation has been introduced. It is done by way of flexible endoscope through the bile duct opening in the duodenum. The main objective is to show stones in the bile ducts and gall bladder.

Question 11

EUA- Exploration under anaesthetic

Answer 11

EUA- Exploration under anaesthetic An internal examination under general anaesthetic

Question 12

EVAR- Endovascular Aneurysium repair

Answer 12

EVAR- Endovascular Aneurysium repair - Placement of an expandable stent graft within the aorta

Question 13

Fempop - Femoropopliteal bypass surgery

Answer 13

A surgical procedure where a vein from the patient’s body or an artificial vein is used to construct a bypass around a blocked main leg artery.

Question 14

Gastrectomy

Answer 14

Surgical removal of the whole stomach, mainly for carcinoma of the stomach

Question 15

Hartmann’s procedure

Answer 15

Hartmann’s procedure - The upper rectum and sigmoid colon are excised the rectal stump is closed and the terminal colostomy is fashioned

Question 16

Hemicolectomy

Answer 16

Hemicolectomy - Surgical removal of the right side of the large intestine. The remaining end of the colon is joined to the small bowel with an end to end anastamosis.

Question 17

Ileostomy

Answer 17

A surgical operation in which the ileum is cut and the upper end brought out through the front wall of the abdomen so that the bowel contents can discharge externally

Question 18

Jejunostomy

Answer 18

A surgical procedure in which an opening is cut in the jejunum and the upper end brought out through the wall of the abdomen so that bowel contents can discharge to the exterior

Question 19

MRCP- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

Answer 19

A medical imaging technique that uses magnetic resonance imaging to visualize the biliary and pancreatic ducts in a non-invasive manner

Question 20

Oesophagectomy

Answer 20

Surgical removal of the oesophagus, mainly for oesophageal cancers

Question 21

ORIF- Open reduction Internal Fixation

Answer 21

ORIF- Open reduction Internal Fixation - A surgical procedure to realign broken bones and then fix them in place with metal screws or plates to allow bone healing in the correct position.

Question 22

THR- Total Hip Replacement

Answer 22

THR- Total Hip Replacement - Replacement of the hip joint with a prosthetic implant.

Question 23

TKR-Total knee replacement

Answer 23

TKR-Total knee replacement - Replacement of the knee joint with a prosthetic implant

Question 24

UGIB- Upper Gastrointestinal bleed

Answer 24

UGIB- Upper Gastrointestinal bleed - A bleed from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. Usually from varicies or gastric ulcers.