Download Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms
Adjustable Gastric Banding (AGB)
A procedure where a silicone, inflatable band is placed around the top portion of the stomach creating a small pouch
that reduces food consumption. The band is inserted through several small incisions (usually 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters)
and does not require stomach stapling or re-routing of the intestines. Weight loss is achieved through restriction
(feeling full on a small portion).
American Board of Surgery
This is the official certifying agency for American surgeons. A surgeon who is “Board Certified” has completed
a recognized residency program in general surgery and passed extremely rigorous written and oral exams.
Surgeons who have recently graduated from residency or fellowship programs are usually “Board Eligible,”
meaning they are eligible to take the Board certifying exam. You can find out more about the Board at their
web site: www.absurgery.org
American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery
This is the largest bariatric surgery society in the world. It was created in 1983 to “advance the art and science of
bariatric surgery.” Most surgeons who have committed a major portion of their practice to weight loss (bariatric)
surgery are members of this society. You can learn more about the society at their web site: www.asmbs.org
Arthritis
Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness. Most patients with morbid obesity
have degenerative arthritis, which is the erosion of the joint lining from excess pressure caused by weight.
The damage from degenerative arthritis cannot be reversed, but if excess weight is removed then further damage
can be prevented.
Bariatric Surgery
The word “bariatric” comes from the Greek word baros, meaning weight. Bariatric surgery is another word
for weight loss surgery, which is surgery designed to treat severe obesity along with diet, exercise and
behavior modification.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a term that determines your weight relative to your height that is an alternative to measuring a person’s
body fat. There are many BMI calculators available online. Your BMI will place you in one of these categories:
>18.5 Underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 Normal Weight, 25 to 29.9 Overweight, >30 are considered to be obese.
Calcium
A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is
also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food
sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon,
clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. After weight loss surgery, we recommend you take Calcium Citrate
500 mg by mouth three times daily for a total of 1500 milligrams.
Glossary of Terms cont.
Co-Insurance
The remaining amount a patient is responsible for if their insurance does not cover 100% of the procedure.
For example: If the patient’s insurance covered the procedure at 80%, the co-insurance would be 20%.
Comorbidity
A medical condition that exists is caused or worsened by obesity or any other primary disease. With sufficient weight
loss, obesity related comorbidities such as Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea and reflux
generally improve or resolve.
Complication Rate
The percentage of complications versus the total number of surgeries performed.
Deductible
The amount a patient needs to pay before the insurance company’s coverage plan begins.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
This is another name for blood clots that form in the deep veins of the legs and pelvis. People recovering from
abdominal surgery are at increased risk for these clots, as are overweight individuals.
Diabetes
Also called high blood sugar or diabetes mellitus. Occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin
(Type I Diabetes) or Insulin is unable to take the sugar from the cells causing glucose (sugar) to build up in
the body (Type II Diabetes).
Dumping Syndrome
A group of symptoms that occurs in gastric bypass patients when high carbohydrate or sweet food or liquid enters
the small intestine too rapidly. These symptoms include cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. This affect
although unpleasant, discourages sweet eating and encourages weight loss.
Dysmenorrhea (menstrual irregularity, infertility)
Any abnormality of a woman’s menstrual cycle, such as absence of menses, heavy bleeding, or irregular menses.
In women with morbid obesity, fat cells (which secrete a tiny amount of hormone from each cell) put out enough
hormones to throw the entire system out of balance. Many patients who were infertile prior to surgery can safely
carry a child after surgery after weight is stabilized – it is VERY IMPORTANT to avoid pregnancy while the patient
is still losing weight.
Gastric
A term for anything relating to the stomach.
Glossary of Terms cont.
Heart Disease
Also referred to as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), this condition is caused by the clogging or narrowing
of the arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart.
Hypercholesterolemia
The medical term for high blood cholesterol. Many patients find that their blood cholesterol decreases significantly
after weight loss surgery.
Hypertension
Also known as high blood pressure. A common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high
(a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater).
Incentive Spirometry
Also known as a Volurex. After surgery, you will be given a small plastic device with a flexible hose attached to it.
You will be taught how to suck air in through the device to exercise your lungs. This will help you to avoid atelectasis
and pneumonia following surgery. You should take you incentive spirometer home with you, so that you can continue
your breathing exercises at home.
LAP-BAND® System
“LAP-BAND®” is the brand of adjustable gastric band that Sanford uses. The silicone “band” is placed around
the upper part of the stomach to help control food intake (see adjustable gastric banding). Weight loss is achieved
through restriction (feeling full on a small portion).
Laparoscope
A narrow surgical telescope, usually 5 mm (1/4”) to 10 mm (1/2”) in diameter, that can be inserted into the abdomen
through a very small incision. A small video camera is usually attached to the outer end of the scope, so that the
image may be viewed on a TV monitor.
Laparoscopic Surgery
Surgery performed through multiple small incisions (1/4” to 1/2” long) using specially-designed surgical instruments
and viewed through a laparoscope, or surgical telescope.
Malabsorption (Malabsorptive Procedure)
Weight loss which is caused by decreasing the number of calories your body absorbs from the food you eat.
Glossary of Terms cont.
Metabolic Syndrome (also called “Syndrome X”)
A cluster of metabolic abnormalities that all result from the primary disorder of insulin resistance (insulin resistance
is the cause of Type 2 diabetes in morbidly obese patients). All the metabolic abnormalities associated with syndrome
X can lead to cardiovascular disorders.
The characteristic disorders present in metabolic syndrome X include:
• Insulin resistance
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Abnormalities of blood clotting
• Low HDL and high LDL cholesterol levels
• High triglyceride levels
Most patients with Syndrome X are morbidly obese. In most cases the features of Syndrome X resolve
after gastric bypass.
Morbid Obesity
A condition in which a patient has a BMI of 40 or greater, generally 100 or more pounds over ideal body weight.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
A serious breathing condition where the soft tissue in the back of your throat relaxes during sleep
and blocks the airway. This blockage can cause loud or violent snoring, and the patient to stop breathing
sometimes up to 100 times per night.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
An endocrine (hormonal) disorder found in women. Most often, symptoms appear around the start of menstruation.
However, some women do not develop symptoms until their early to mid-20’s. It affects women of all races and
nationalities. No two women have exactly the same symptoms.
Pneumonia
Infection in the lung. Patients who are recovering from abdominal surgery are at risk for this problem. Walking,
coughing, deep breathing and the use of incentive spirometry, can substantially reduce this risk.
Reflux
Also known as GERD (Gastroesophegeal reflux disease). The stomach contents regurgitate and back up (reflux)
into the esophagus. Normally, the food in the stomach is partially digested by stomach acid and enzymes.
The partially digested material in the stomach is delivered by the stomach muscle down into the small intestine for
further digestion. With esophageal reflux, stomach acid and other digestive fluids reflux back up into the esophagus
and occasionally all the way back into the breathing passages. In the esophagus the acid causes inflammation and
damage to the esophagus If the acid and digestive juices get into the lungs they cause damage that shows up as
bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, or a chronic cough. Morbidly obese patients experience much more reflux and
heartburn than the normal weight population, because the increased abdominal pressure associated with obesity
literally pushes fluids back up the esophagus. Almost all GERD improves significantly with weight loss.
Glossary of Terms cont.
Restrictive Procedure
A weight-loss procedure which works primarily by decreasing the functional size of the stomach. This decreases
the amount of food which can be eaten at one time. An example is the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band.
Revisional Surgery
A procedure performed to correct or modify a previous procedure.
Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass
A surgery that creates a new small pouch using surgical staples. The new stomach area is then connected to the
middle portion of the small intestine. This procedure is usually done via laparoscopic method using several very
small incisions (usually 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters). Weight loss is achieved by restriction (feeling full on a small portion),
malabsorption (not absorbing all calories consumed), and hormonal changes that help suppress your appetite.
Saline
A salt solution (sodium chloride) similar to tears, the body’s natural liquid. Saline is used to fill the adjustable gastric
band to adjust the degree of restriction.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
The surgeon will staple, divide, and remove 80-85% of the stomach. The remaining stomach resembles a sleeve
or banana. This does not require re-routing of the intestines. Weight loss is achieved through restriction
(feeling full on a small portion) and hormonal changes that help suppress your appetite.
Urinary Incontinence
The involuntary release of urine. It often occurs during coughing or other forceful stresses. In many cases the
leaking of urine is caused or worsened by the continuous pressure that obesity places on the bladder. In these cases
we would expect weight loss to allow better bladder control.
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