Colorectal Surgery Terminology List

Question 1

Abdominoperineal Resection

Answer 1

Removal of the anus, rectum, and part or all of the sigmoid colon

Question 2

Adhesion

Answer 2

Bands of connective tissue the body forms in response to inflammation; may occur as the result of surgery

Question 3

Anal fissure

Answer 3

Small scrapes or tears around the anus

Question 4

Anastomosis

Answer 4

Occurs when two pieces of the GI tract that were previously separated are surgically connected

Question 5

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)

Answer 5

Abnormal connections between arteries and veins; often found in the elderly and one of the most common causes of small intestinal bleeding.

Question 6

BRBPR

Answer 6

Bright red blood per rectum

Question 7

Colonoscopy

Answer 7

An invasive procedure in which a scope is used to take images and possibly biopsies of a patient’s colon and terminal ileum

Question 8

Colostomy bag

Answer 8

Bag used to collect fecal matter from a stoma

Question 9

Dentate

Answer 9

The point at which the anus becomes the rectum, indicated by a change in epithelial cell type

Question 10

Diverticulitis

Answer 10

A flare of diverticulosis, where the pouches in diverticulosis become inflamed or infected

Question 11

Diverticulosis

Answer 11

Pouches that often typically form i nthe sigmoid colon as a result of chronic constipation

Question 12

Duodenum

Answer 12

The first portion of the small intestine

Question 13

Esophagogastroduodenos copy (EGD)

Answer 13

An invasive procedure in which a scope is inserted into a patient’s throat and takes images of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum

Question 14

Fecal incontinence

Answer 14

A symptom where the patient cannot control their bowels and spontaneously passes feces

Question 15

Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)

Answer 15

A test ordered to determine whether blood is present in the patient’s stool

Question 16

Fistula

Answer 16

A tunnel-like structure that connects two different structures; forms as a result of inflammation

Question 17

Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)

Answer 17

A solution provided to the patient who requires fluid replacement during surgery

Question 18

Hartmann procedure

Answer 18

A type of surgery used for severe diverticulitis

Question 19

Hematochezia

Answer 19

Bleeding from the anus

Question 20

Hemicolectomy

Answer 20

Removal or either the left or right half of the colon

Question 21

Hemorrhoid

Answer 21

An outpouching of a vein around the anus

Question 22

Hemorrhoidectomy

Answer 22

Removal of a hemorrhoid

Question 23

Ileum

Answer 23

The distal part of the small intestine

Question 24

Inflammatory bowel disease

Answer 24

Group of autoimmune inflammatory disease which include Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis

Question 25

INR

Answer 25

A test that evaluates how fast the patient clots

Question 26

Internal sphincterotomy

Answer 26

Small incision of the internal and sphincter to temporarily weaken it

Question 27

IPAA

Answer 27

Ileal pouch anal anastomosis; also called a J-pouch

Question 28

Jejunum

Answer 28

The middle portion of the small intestine

Question 29

Laparoscopic

Answer 29

An approach to surgery in which small holes are made in the patient's abdomen to allow for a scope and surgical tools to be inserted and perform surgery

Question 30

Lysis of adhesions (LOA)

Answer 30

A surgery performed to break down adhesions which may have been formed as a result of inflammation or prior surgery

Question 31

Packed red blood cell (pRBC)

Answer 31

Blood packs that are used to replace blood lost during surgery

Question 32

Pelvic floor dysfunction

Answer 32

When the muscles in the pelvis are not properly working

Question 33

Polyp

Answer 33

A finger-like mass that may be either benign or precancerous

Question 34

Polypectomy

Answer 34

Removal of a polyp

Question 35

Postoperative day (POD)

Answer 35

A term used in the first sentence prior to the chief complaint to show how far from surgery the patient is currently

Question 36

Proctocolectomy

Answer 36

Removal of both the colon and the rectum

Question 37

PT/PTT

Answer 37

A type of blood test like the INR to determine the clotting time of blood

Question 38

Rectal prolapse

Answer 38

A condition in which the rectum comes through the anus and may come out of the body; aka rectocele

Question 39

Rectopexy

Answer 39

Procedure to correct rectal prolapse

Question 40

Segmental colectomy

Answer 40

Removal of a portion of the colon

Question 41

Seton

Answer 41

A string-like structure that is placed inside fistulas and tightened over time to help the fistula close

Question 42

Small bowel resection

Answer 42

Removal of a portion of the small intestines

Question 43

Stoma

Answer 43

An artificial opening between a part of the bowel and the surface of the obdy

Question 44

Terminal ileum (TI)

Answer 44

The final portion of the ileum

Question 45

Total colectomy

Answer 45

Removal of the entire colon

Question 46

Type and cross

Answer 46

Lab test to determine blood type

Question 47

Volvulus

Answer 47

Twisting of the sigmoid and cecum colon