Abbreviations and Acronyms

Question 1

AAA

Answer 1

Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Surgical repair of a weakening / ballooning area of the abdominal portion of the aorta (the largest artery in the body).

Question 2

ACL

Answer 2

Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Reconstruction or repairing of the anterior cruciate ligament. In an ACL reconstruction, a graft is used to replace the ligament, and in an ACL repair, the torn ligament is put back together.

Question 3

ACF

Answer 3

Anterior Cervical Fusion

Surgical fusion of vertebrae in the cervical spine, approached from the front side of the patient’s body.

Question 4

ALIF

Answer 4

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Spinal surgery in which bone grafts / implants are used to fuse vertebrae in the lumbar spine, approached from the front side of the patient’s body.

Question 5

AKA

Answer 5

Above the Knee Amputation

Surgical removal of the leg above the knee.

Question 6

AV Graft

Answer 6

Arteriovenous Graft

A surgical connection is made between an artery and a vein to allow hemodialysis access.

Question 7

BMT

Answer 7

Bilateral Myringotomy With Tubes

Incision into the ear drum (tempic membrane, both sides) for drainage via tube placement.

Question 8

BSO

Answer 8

Bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy

Surgical removal of both fellow tubes and ovaries.

Question 9

BKA

Answer 9

Below the Knee Amputation

Surgical removal of the leg below the knee.

Question 10

CABG

Answer 10

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Creation of a new blood supply to an area of the heart with a clogged / blocked artery using the patient’s own blood vessel to function as the graft (frequently harvested from the leg).

Question 11

CR

Answer 11

Closed Reduction

Treatment of a fractured bone without a surgical incision.

Question 12

D&C

Answer 12

Dilation and Curettage

Dilation of the uterine cervix and scrapping of the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) with a uterine curette.

Question 13

EGD

Answer 13

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Endoscopic procedure that visualizes the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract up to the duodenum ( where the stomach connects to the small intestine).

Question 14

ESS

Answer 14

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Use of endoscopic instrumentation to operate on the nose.

Question 15

EUA

Answer 15

Exam Under Anesthesia

The use of anesthesia to conduct a surgical examination of a sensitive part of the body, such as the eye or rectum.

Question 16

I&D

Answer 16

Incision and Drainage

Incision into and removal (drainage) of pus / fluid from an abscess, boil, or infected wound / area of the body.

Question 17

ICD

Answer 17

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

Insertion / implantation of a battery-powered device that can deliver a jolt of electricity to treat cardiac arrhythmia (dangerous irregular heartbeats, frequently performed in cardiac catheterization labs).

Question 18

IMN

Answer 18

Intramedullary Nail

Insertion / implantation of a nail or rod into the medullary cavity (center) of a long bone, such as the femur or tibia.

Question 19

IOL

Answer 19

Intraocular Lens

Insertion / implantation of a lens within the eye to treat cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) or myopia (nearsightedness).

Question 20

IORT

Answer 20

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy

Use of therapeutic levels of radiation to treat exposed cancer tumors during surgery, frequently done during breast surgery.

Question 21

LAVH

Answer 21

Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

A visualization and treatment of pelvic organs (laparoscopy) followed by removal of the uterus through the vagina.

Question 22

L&B

Answer 22

Laryngoscopy and Bronchoscopy

A visual examination of the larynx and the bronchi.

Question 23

LP

Answer 23

Lumbar Puncture

A collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Commonly referred to as a spinal tap (not a surgical procedure, but frequently done in surgery for children).

Question 24

MIDCAB

Answer 24

Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass

Use of a small incision in the ribs (mini thoracotomy) to access the heart to bypass diseased coronary arteries. This is done “off pump” without the assistance of the heart-long machine.

Question 25

MIS

Answer 25

Minimally Invasive Surgery

A type of surgery that uses endoscopic techniques and instrumentation in order to reduce trauma to the body during surgery (this technique reduces not only trauma to the patient’s body, but reduces recovery time and reduces infection risks as well).

Question 26

ORIF

Answer 26

Open Reduction Internal Fixation

Treatment of a fractured bone with an incision and the use of plates and screws or pins to hold the fragments together.

Question 27

PAL

Answer 27

Power Assisted Liposuction

Aspiration (suction) of fat cells by means of a motorized handpiece and cannula.

Question 28

PCI

Answer 28

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Coronary angioplasty; a procedure to open narrowed coronary arteries, normally performed in cardiac catheterization labs.

Question 29

PDA

Answer 29

Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Repair of a congenital heart disorder in a neonate( a child less than one month old).

Question 30

PEG

Answer 30

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrotomy

Insertion of a feeding tube (PEG tube) into the stomach through the abdominal wall.

Question 31

PICC

Answer 31

Insertion of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

An intravenous catheter used in a peripheral vein (such as the arm) for long-term IV access (a sterile procedure, not a surgery).

Question 32

PLIF

Answer 32

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Spinal surgery in which bone grafts / implants are used to fuse vertebrae in the lumbar spine, approached from the back side of the patient’s body.

Question 33

STSG

Answer 33

Split Thickness Skin Graft

Healthy skin is taken from a place on the body, called the donor site, and used as a skin graft elsewhere on the body.

Question 34

TAH

Answer 34

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus through an incision on the abdomen.

Question 35

TEE

Answer 35

Transesophageal Echocardiogram

Obtaining an ultrasound image of the heart by means of a probe / transducer inserted into the esophagus, frequently done in connection with cardiac surgery.

Question 36

THA

Answer 36

Total Hip Arthroplasty

Hip joint reconstruction by removing the bone and placing a plastic / metal component in the hip socket (the acetabulum), as well as the femoral head (the proximal femur) resulting in a completely rebuilt joint.

Question 37

TKA

Answer 37

Total Knee Arthroplasty

Knee joint reconstruction by placing implants on the end of the femur and the top of the tibia as well as on the knee cap (the patella), resulting in a completely rebuilt joint.

Question 38

TURP

Answer 38

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

Surgical removal of part of the prostate gland by inserting instruments across the urethra to reach the prostate internally.

Question 39

VATS

Answer 39

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Use of endoscopic instruments to access the chest cavity / lungs / thorax.

Question 40

VP Shunt

Answer 40

Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt

Surgical placement of a drain (shunt) to transfer excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain (ventricle) to the abdominal lining (peritonium).

Question 41

Wound VAC

Answer 41

Wound Vacuum Assisted Closure

Application of a device / dressing that provides negative pressure (vacuum) to facilitate wound closure.

Question 42

XLIF

Answer 42

Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion

Spinal fusion surgery approaching from the side of the patient using special instrumentation to reduce trauma on the patient’s body.