Clinical Definitions Flashcards
Guarding
protective response in muscle
Cushing ulcer
peptic ulcer occurring from severe head injury or with other lesions of the CNS
Alcoholic
absence of secretion of bile
Gastritis
inflammation of the stomach with distinctive histologic and endoscopic features
Coffee-ground emesis
denotes blood congealed and separated within gastric contents that takes the form of coffee grounds when in contact with acidic environment
Virchow’s Node
palpable mass, LN, in the left supraclavicular/sternovlaciular fossa
Nausea
subjective sensation of impending urges to vomit
Vomiting/emesis
queasiness –> retching, forceful ejection of upper gut contents form the mouth
Acute abdomen
serious acute intraabdominal condition attended by pain, tenderness, and muscular rigidity for which emergency surgery is considered
GGT
gamma-glutamyl transferase (used to determine the cause of elevated ALP)
Gastropathy
gastric donations where there is epithelial or endothelial damage without inflammation
Grey Turner Sign
flank ecchymosis secondary to hemorrhage
Courvoisier’s Sign
enlarged non-tender GB secondary to pancreatic disease or cancer
Dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
KUB X Ray
kidney, ureter, bladder x ray
Globus pharyngeus
foreign body sensation localized in the neck that doesn’t interfere with swallowing
EUR
Endoscopic ultrasound
Borborygmi
rumbling sound as gas travels through SI
Obstipation
severe intractable constipation caused by obstruction
Mittelsschmerz
lower abdominal pain in the middle of the menstrual cycle
Cholestasis
stoppage or suppression of bile flow, due to factors within or outside the liver
Heel Strike
patient supine, doc strikes patient’s heel, pain upon striking can indicate appendicitis
ERCP
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Anorexia
lack of appetite
MRCP
magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
LGIB
lower GI bleeding
Melena
dark colored stool consistent with broken down hemosiderin in bowel
Obturator muscle test
flex pt’s right thigh at hip, with knee bent, and rotate the leg internally at the hip; right hypogastric pain is + and suggests irritation of obturate muscle due to inflamed appendix
Esophagitis
inflammation of the esophagus
Pneumoperitoneum
abnormal presence of air or gas in peritoneal cavity
Rigidity
abdomen is hard
Steatorrhea
fatty, greasy stools
Curling ulcer
peptic ulcer of the duodenum in a patient with extensive superficial burns
Icterus
jaundice
McBurney’s Point
point of appendix
Edentulous
no teeth
Pyrosis
substernal burning sensation (heart burn)
Regurgitation
effortless reflex of liquid or gastric or esophageal food contents in the absence of N/V
UGIB
upper GI bleed
Pneumomediastinum
abnormal presence of air or gas in mediastinum
Rebound Tenderness
pain upon removal of pressure, rather than pressure removal (tests for peritoneal inflammation/acute abdomen)
Psoas sign
associated with a retrocecal appendix; RLQ pain with passive right hip extension
Pneumobilia
abnormal presence of gas in biliary system/bile ducts
Cullen Sign
ecchymosis around the umbilicus secondary to hemorrhage
Colic
acute paroxysmal abdominal pain
Flatus
gas or air in the GI tract expelled through the anus
Ulcer
local defect in the organ’s surface
Dysplasia
abnormal tissue development, alteration in size, and organization of cells
Ureterolithiasis
stone from kidney making its way through ureter to bladder
Cachexia
profound and marked state fo constitutional disorder
Dyspepsia
postprandial epigastric discomfort
Illiopsoas Muscle test
have pt flex hip against resistance –> pain suggests appendix problem
Hematochezia
passage of bright red blood or maroon stools
Hematemesis
vomitting blood
Tenesmus
ineffectual and painful straining at stool
Odynophagia
painful swallowing
Retching
peristalsis of stomach and esophagus conducted by a closed glottis
Rovsing’s Sign
pain the RLQ during left sided pressure
Eructation
explosion of swallowed air (burping)
Lloyd Punch
CVA tenderness test
Murphy Sign
GB problem
