-A-

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 Aneurysm - 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

-B-

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/meters^{2 )}

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

-C-

Calcium - Calcium is involved in many physiologic processes e.g. building of bones

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

-D-

Deficiency - An insufficient level of a substance or circumstance

Dehydration - Referring to a dangerously low level of fluids in the body

Diabetes Mellitus - Any of several metabolic disorders often marked by excessive discharge of urine, persistent thirst, and an increased blood sugar level - especially Type 2 Diabetes

Diagnosis -  Process of identifying an issue, disease or event

Diarrhea -  Loose or liquid bowel movement or stool

Diet - A person's normal food intake

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

 Top of Page

-E-

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

-F-

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

 Top of Page

-G-

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

-H-

Hyperlipidemia - High cholesterol

Hypertension - High blood pressure

 Top of Page

-I-

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 (red blood cells)

-J-

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

-L-

Laparoscopic - A minimally-invasive surgical or diagnostic procedure that uses a endoscope (laparoscope) to view and operate on structures in the abdomen

 Top of Page

-M-

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

-N-

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

-O-

Obesity - Relating to weight greater than healthy weight

Osteoarthritis - Chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints

 Top of Page

-P-

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

-R-

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

 Top of Page

-S-

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

-T-

Therapeutic - Referring to treatment of an issue, disease or event

Trend - The general direction in which something tends to move

-U-

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

Top of Page