Surgical Tech vocabulary all

Circulator
Chapter 1

Non-sterile surgical team member who moves about periphery of the sterile field.

Elective
Chapter 1

Pertaining to a surgical intervention that does not require immediate intervention; the patient elects to have the surgery at a specific time.
Example: torn meniscus in the knee

Emergent
Chapter 1

Surgical pathologies threatening life or limb within a relatively short time.
Example: ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta

Preceptor
Chapter 1

Instructor or tutor who demonstrates the general rules of conduct and procedures and guides the students while they are practicing or performing

Urgent
Chapter 1

Surgical pathology requiring treatment within a relatively short period of time.
Example: Unruptured act topic pregnancy with stable vital signs

Intraopertive
Chapter 1

The intraoperative case management phase occurs while the surgical procedure is being performed.

Preoperative
Chapter 1

The pre-operative case management phase occurs prior to initiation of the surgical procedure (creation of the incision or insertion of an endoscope).

Postoperative
Chapter 1

The postoperative case management phase begins when the surgical procedure is terminated (application of the sterile dressing or extraction of the endoscope).

Ambulatory Surgical Center
Chapter 1

Facility where patients are treated and released the same day; also known as outpatient surgery or same day surgery center.

ARC/STSA
Chapter 1

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
Directly overseas academic accreditation for the field of surgical technology.

abandonment
Chapter 2

To leave a patient alone who is still in need of care or observation

Patient Care Partnership
Chapter 2

Replacing AHA's Patients' Bill of Rights, this plain-language brochure infroms patients about what they should expect during their hospital stay with regard to their right and responsibilites

scope of practice
Chapter 2

Professional duty limits based on state and federal law and on an individual's education and experience

incident report
Chapter 2

Mechanism for reporting an incident, usually by completing a document describing what happened, related to any adverse patient occurrence

Code of Ethics
Chapter 2

Guidelines, usually expressed in a series of statements, that provide ethical standards of conduct for a profession

affidavit
Chapter 2

Voluntary statement of facts sworn before an authority to be true

informed consent
Chapter 2

A situation in which a patient gives voluntary permission to another party (i.e., surgeon or anesthesia provider) to perform the procedures that have been explained; includes the risks, benefits, possible complications, and alternative treatment options

advance directive
Chapter 2

Written instructions expressing the patient's wishes concerning the types and amount of medical treatment to be rendered in the event the patient can no longer make those types of decisions

surgical conscience
Chapter 2

The basis for the practice of strict adherence to sterile technique by all surgical team members; involves a level of honesty and moral integrity that must be upheld

liability
Chapter 2

(1) An obligation to do or not do something, (2) An obligation potentially or actually incurred as a result of a negligent act

Autoimmune disease
Chapter 3&4

A disease such as rheumatoid arthritis that attacks the body's own tissue

Golden hour
Chapter 3&4

Medical treatment of trauma victim within the first hour of following injury

Psychological need
Chapter 3 &4

A mental requirements or necessity for fulfillment as a person

Enterocolitis
Chapter 3&4

Inflammation of the small intestines

Hypothermia
Chapter 3&4

Abnormally low body temp. Below 35C

Pneumothorax
Chapter 3&4

Abnormal accumulation of air in the pleural cavity

Social need
Chapter 3&4

I need to fit into society and be accepted by one's peers

Venous compression device
Chapter 3&4

A device used for patients who are prone to development of thrombophlebitis

Septic shock
Chapter 3&4

A state of shock produced by septicaemia when the body is over pathogenic microbes

Human immunodeficiency virus
Chapter 3&4

The virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Perfusionist
Chapter 5

The individual responsible for running and maintaining the cardiopulmonary bypass machine during open heart procedures.

Airbourne Bacteria
Chapter 5

Transported or spread by air.

Pathology Department
Chapter 5

The department responsible for testing and processing specimens, tissues, and body fluids to obtain a dianosis.

Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)
Chapter 5

Attire worn to protect against exposure to physical and biological factors.

Plume
Chapter 5

Smoke produced by a laser or electrocautery that has been shown to contain biological material.

Laminar Airflow
Chapter 5

The undirectional positive-pressure flow of air that captures microbes to be filtered.

Electrosurgical Unit (ESU)
Chapter 5

Mechanical device that produces an electric current that is converted into thermal energy (heat) for the purpose of cutting or coagulating tissue.

Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Chapter 5

Area where the immediate postoperative care of the patient takes place before transfer to the hospital room or ICU

Prophylaxis
Chapter 5

Prevention of disease or condition

Restricted
Chapter 5

The areas of the operating department (including the sterile storage areas of the surgery department) that require OR attire, including the wearing of a mask.

Asepsis
Ch 7

Absence of micro organisms

Biological indicator
Ch 7

A method for testing the sterilization capability of a sterilizer; contains microorganisms that are killed when exposed to sterilization process; only method of guaranteeing the sterility of an item.

Chemical indicator
Ch 7

Internal or external monitor that changes color when exposed to the sterilization process; only indicates that the sterilization process has occurred; it does not guarantee sterility of the item.

Immediate use steam sterilization
Ch 7

A process of quickly sterilizing unwrapped items using pre-vacuum or gravities steam sterilizers.. Such a surgical instruments that have been dropped on the floor and is needed right away

Intermediate level disinfection
Ch 7

Level of disinfection in whichmost micro organisms are killed except stores

Pathogen
Ch 7

Micro organism that is capable of causing disease

Permeability
Ch 7

The condition of being permeable; capable of allowing the passage of fluids or substances

Sterile technique
Ch 7

Methods used to prevent contamination of the sterile field and prevent the patient from acquiring postoperative wound infection

Sterile field
Ch 7

Area of sterility maintained by the surgical team during a procedure

Surgical Site Infections (SSI)
Ch 7

An infection of the surgical wound that was acquired during the course of the surgical procedure

Autologous
Ch 8

From oneself

Cardiac Dysrhythmia
Ch 8

Refers to any type of abnormal heart rhythm

CPR
Ch 8

The act of manully providing chest compressions and ventilations to patients in cardiac arrest in an effort to provide oxygenated blood to the brain and vital organs, and reverse the processes that lead to death.

Hemolysis
Ch 8

The destruction of erythrocytes

Hemostasis
Ch 8

The arrest of the escape of blood through natural or artifical means

Hemostat
Ch 8

A device or agent used as a coagulant

Homologous
Ch 8

From the same species

Rh Factor
Ch 8

Genetically determined blood group antigen that is present on the surface of erythrocytes of some individuals

Suction
Ch 8

The act of sucking up air or fluids through a device, such as a tonsil suction tip

Teeth
Chapter 10

Small projections from the tips of the jaw of certain surgical instruments

Ureteral
Chapter 10

Pertaining to the ureters that exit the kidney and transport urine from the kidney to the bladder

Cyro
Chapter 10

Prefix or combining form meaning cold

Pneumatic
Chapter 10

pertaining to air

Aperture
Chapter 10

an opening

Drain
Chapter 10

Hollow, cylindrical device that is used to evacuate air and/or fluids from a surgical wound

Insufflation
Chapter 10

Forcing powder, gas, or vapor into a body cavity

Serrations
Chapter 10

Grooves located on the jaws of surgical instruments that are either longitudinal, crosshatched, or horizontal

Bipolar Electrosurgery
Chapter 10

For this type of electrosurgery, both the active electrode and return electrode fuctions are performed at the site of surgery

Urethral
Chapter 10

Pertaining to the urethra, which travels from the bladder to the exterior of the body

Supine
Chapter 12

A position in which the patient lies on his or her back, face upward with arms usually placed on arm boards with the palms facing up.

Antimicrobial
Chapter 12

Refers to an agent capable of killing some microorganisms and suppressing the growth of other types of microbes.

NPO
Chapter 12

Nothing by mouth.

Circumferentally
Chapter 12

Circularly, or moving completely around an item.

Anticipation
Chapter 12

To foresee or prepare for a situation before it occurs.

Donning
Chapter 12

To put on or dress.

Prone
Chapter 12

A position in which the patient lies face downward.

Neutral Zone
Chapter 12

An area designated within the sterile field in which sharps may be safely placed by one person and retrieved by another.

Biohazard
Chapter 12

Biologic material, which may be infective, that threatens humans or the environment.

Resident Organisms
Chapter 12

Microorganisms that live on and within the body and that are beneficial for health.

Contrast Medium
Ch 13

Solution injected into arteries, veins, or ducts during a radiographic exam that is radiopaque and therefore stands out in contrast to the surrounding tissues.

Auscultation
Ch 13

Use of the unaided ear or stethoscope to listen to sounds within the body.

Biopsy
Ch 13

Removal of tissue or fluid from the body for pathological examination to determine a diagnosis.

Cholangiography
Ch 13

A preop and postop diagnostic tool in which a catheter is inserted into the common bile duct and contrast medium is injected to outline potential calculi under fluoroscopy.

Obstruction
Ch 13

Hindrance or blockage of a passage.

Palpation
Ch 13

Examining by touch.

Prosthesis
Ch 13

Artificial device used to replace a body part, aid bodily function, or give a cosmetic appearance, may be permanent or removable.

Sign
Ch 13

Indication of a disease or condition perceived by the examiner.

Symptom
Ch 13

Indication of a disease or condition perceived by the patient.

Indwelling
Ch 13

A substance or item that remains in place either permanently or for a period of time.

Anastomosis
Ch 14

Pathological, surgical, or traumatic formation of an opening, normally separate organs or spaces

ectomy
Ch 14

Removal of

Excision
Ch 14

Surgical removal

Incision
Ch 14

Cut made with sharp instrument

Lysis
Ch 14

Dissolution, loosening, or destruction of something

Necrosis
Ch 14

Tissue death

Ostomy
Ch 14

To create a new opening

otomy
Ch 14

To make an incision into

Peritoneum
Ch 14

A thin serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity

Stasis
Ch 14

Stoppage or reduction of the flow of bodily fluids