Glossary of Medical Terms

• Absorption - Process by which digested food is absorbed by the lower part of the small intestine into the bloodstream.
• Adipose - Fatty, pertaining to fat
• Anastomosis - Surgical connection between two structures
• Bariatric - Pertaining to weight or weight reduction
• BMI - Body Mass Index - Method of calculating degree of excess weight. Based on weight and body surface area
• Cardiovascular - Pertaining to heart and blood vessels
• Clinically severe obesity - Body Mass Index of 40 or more, which is equivalent to 45.4 kilograms or more over ideal body weight; a weight level that is life risking. Also known as Morbid Obesity.
• Co-Morbid - Associated illnesses disabling conditions associated with clinically severe obesity or obesity-related health conditions
• Colon - Large intestine beginning at the end of the small intestine and ending at the rectum
• Contraindications - Any symptom or circumstance indicating the inappropriateness of an otherwise advisable treatment (i.e., alcoholism; drug dependency; severe depression; sociopathic (antisocial) personality disorder)
• Criteria - Defines potential candidate for surgery
• Digestion - Process by which food is broken down by stomach and upper small intestine into absorbable forms
• Dilation - Process of enlarging a passage or anastomosis
• Disease - Process injurious to health and/or longevity
• Divided Gastric Bypass - Operation providing a tool for management of clinically severe obesity
• Dumping Syndrome - Uncomforatable feeling of nausea, lightheadedness, upset stomach, diarrhea, associated with ingestion of sweets, high-calorie liquids or dairy products
• Duodenum - First 30cm of small intestine immediately below the stomach. Bile and pancreatic fluids flow into duodenum through ducts from liver and pancreas respectively.
• Gastric - Pertaining to stomach
• Gastric Banding - Operation that restricts the size of the stomach by placing a band device around the upper portion of the stomach
• Gastric Bypass - Operation designed to make non-functional a portion of the stomach
• Gastrointestinal - Pertaining to stomach or intestine
• Gastroplasty - Operation for morbid obesity which reshapes the stomach
• Genetic - Pertains to transmitted hereditary characteristics
• Hernia - A weakness in the abdominal wall resulting in a detectable bulge
• Herniation - Process in which a hernia is formed
• Hyperosmolality - Presence of highly concentrated substances capable of producing dumping syndrome
• Hypertension - High blood pressure
• Ileum - Ten feet of small intestine; the part responsible for digestion
• Laparoscopy - Method of visualizing and treating intra-abdominal problems with long fiber-optic instruments
• Morbid - Pertaining to disease, illness, increased risk of death
• Morbid Obesity - Body Mass Index of 40 or more, which is roughly equivalent to 45 kilograms or more over ideal body weight; a weight level that is life risking
• Mortality - Pertaining to death
• Multidisciplinary - Team approach to evaluation and treatment of clincally severe obesity; includes surgical, internal medicine, nutrition, psychiatric, and exercise physiology assessment and treatment
• Obesity - Pertaining to excess weight or adipose tissue
• Obstructions - Narrowing of an anastomosis or segment of gastrointestinal tract which reatrds normal passage of food or waste materials
• Psychotherapy - Evaluation and treatment of mentally related disorders
• Pulmonary - Pertains to lungs
• Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass - A surgical method of reconnecting the stomach and upper small intestines in roughly a Y shape
• Staples - Surgically sterile devices for connecting tissue; usually permanent and made of stainless steel or titanium
• Strictures - Narrowing of anastomosis or section of intesting; often related to scarring or ulcers
• Therapy - Treatment
• VBG - Vertical Banded Gastroplasty; A type of operation to treat clincally severe obesity. Reshapes and restricts the stomach