Glossary

Benign - A benign tumor is a non-cancerous tumor. It does not spread to other parts of the body. It will not come back after it is fully removed.

Biopsy - When a representative sample of tissue is taken from a suspicious area. The tissue is examined under a microscope for diagnosis.

Colonoscopy - A procedure in which a small camera at the end of a flexible tube in inserted through your anus into your colon. The entire colon can be visualized with the colonoscope and biopsies of suspicious areas can be taken.

Elective surgery - Surgery which is performed at your and your surgeon's convenience. Condition for which surgery is indicated is not life threatening.

Emergent surgery - Surgery for a condition which is immediately life-threatening. Surgery must be performed within a few hours.

Endoscopy - A procedure in which a small camera at the end of a flexible tube is inserted down your mouth. The endoscopist can look at your esophagus, stomach, and part of your small intestine with the camera. Biopsies can also be taken with the endoscope.

Epidural Anesthesia - Epidural anesthesia is similar to spinal anesthesia in that a patient loses sensation in the legs and lower abdomen, but instead of injecting the local anesthetic into the spinal fluid the anesthetic is injected into a space outside the spinal canal called the epidural space. Epidural anesthesia lasts longer than spinal anesthesia. A small tube or catheter can be placed into this space and a local anesthetic can be infused (fed) through the tube for hours, days, or even weeks. This type of anesthesia can be used for surgery with larger doses of anesthetic, or for chronic pain relief with lower doses of anesthetic.

General Anesthesia -  Causes you to lose total consciousness so that you are unaware of what is happening, you are pain free, and you have no memory of the period of time during which you are anesthetized. Since you are also paralyzed, a breathing tube is inserted so that the ventilator can breathe for you.

Inpatient - Surgery which requires an admission into the hospital to recover from the operation.

Laparoscopy/laparoscopic - Surgery that is performed via multiple small (usually half-inch) incisions instead of one larger incision. One incision is made near the belly button to allow a long, thin camera scope into the abdominal cavity. The other incisions are used to insert the other instruments needed to complete the operation. One advantage of laparascopic surgery versus open surgery is that in general patients have less pain and shorter recovery time.

Local Anesthesia - also known as regional anesthesia, it causes one part of your body to be numb so that you are unable to feel pain in that area.

Malignant - Cancerous. Invades and destroys nearby tissue. Spreads (metastasize) to distant organs, often recurs even after being completely removed.

Outpatient - Surgery or procedure which does not require an admission into the hospital. You come in to the hospital the day of surgery and leave after a short stay in the recovery room after surgery.

Premalignant - Abnormal tissue that is not yet malignant or cancerous, but if not treated will become malignant.

Spinal Anesthesia - With spinal anesthesia, a local anesthetic agent is injected into the spinal fluid via a needle into your back. This causes loss of sensation of the lower body. Spinal anesthesia can be used for surgery on the legs or lower abdomen (below the bellybutton). Generally spinal anesthesia is suitable for surgery expected to last less than three hours.

Urgent surgery - Surgery for a condition that is potentially life-threatening. Surgery usually must be completed within 24 hours.