Surgery General Terms

Question 1

Operative Report

Answer 1

A report that must be completed by the surgeon for every procedure that he or she performs. This is a detailed description that includes:
   - preoperative diagnosis
   - indication for the procedure
   - name of the procedure
   - surgical techniques employed
   - findings during surgery
   - postoperative diagnosis
   - name of the surgeon
This report also includes information pertaining to the patient such as name, address, age, patient number, and date of the procedure

Question 2

Surgery

Answer 2

Branch of medicine dealing with operative procedures to correct deformities and defects, repair injuries, and diagnose and cure diseases

Question 3

Surgeon

Answer 3

Physician who has completed additional training of five years or more in surgical specialty area; specialty areas include orthopedics; neurosurgery; gynecology; ophthalmology; urology; and thoracic, vascular, cardiac, plastic, and general surgery

Question 4

Anesthesiologist

Answer 4

Physician who has specialization in practice of administering anesthetics

Question 5

Nurse Anesthetist

Answer 5

Registered nurse who has received additional training and education in administration of anesthetic medications

Question 6

Analgesic

Answer 6

Medication to relieve pain

Question 7

Anesthetic

Answer 7

Medication to produce partial to complete loss of sensation

Question 8

Cauterization

Answer 8

Use of heat, cold, electricity, or chemicals to scar, burn, or cut tissues

Question 9

Circulating Nurse

Answer 9

Nurse who assists the surgeon and scrub nurse by providing needed materials during the procedure and by handling the surgical specimen. This person does not wear sterile clothing and may enter and leave the operating room during the procedure

Question 10

Cryosurgery

Answer 10

Technique of exposing tissues to extreme cold to produce cell injury and destruction. Used in the treatment of malignant tumors or to control pain and bleeding

Question 11

Day Surgery

Answer 11

Type of outpatient surgery in which the patient is discharged on the same day he or she is admitted; also called ‘ambulatory surgery’

Question 12

Dissection

Answer 12

Surgical cutting of parts for separation and study

Question 13

Draping

Answer 13

Process of covering the patient with sterile cloths that allow only the operative site to be exposed to the surgeon

Question 14

Electrocautery

Answer 14

Use of an electric current to stop bleeding by coagulating blood vessels

Question 15

Endoscopic Surgery

Answer 15

Use of a lighted instrument to examine the interior of a cavity

Question 16

Hemostasis

Answer 16

Stopping the flow of blood using instruments, pressure, and/or medication

Question 17

Intraoperative

Answer 17

Period of time during surgery

Question 18

Laser Surgery

Answer 18

Use of a controlled beam of light for cutting, hemostasis, or tissue destruction

Question 19

Perioperative

Answer 19

Period of time that includes before, during, and after a surgical procedure

Question 20

Postoperative (post-op)

Answer 20

Period of time immediately following the surgery

Question 21

Preoperative (preop, pre-op)

Answer 21

Period of time preceding surgery

Question 22

Resection

Answer 22

To surgically cut out or remove; excision

Question 23

Scrub Nurse

Answer 23

Surgical assistant who hands instruments to the surgeon. This person wears sterile clothing and maintains the sterile operative field

Question 24

Suture Material

Answer 24

Used to close a wound or incision. Examples are catgut, silk thread, or staples. They may or may not be removed when the wound heals, depending on the type of material that is used