Medical Glossary

ALG Anti Lyphoblast Globulin “MALG”
A medication given intravenously to stop rejection during the first 10 days after a transplant.

Abscess: a pocket of infection, or “pus”.

Antibiotics: medications given to prevent or “fight” infections.

Antihypertensive: medications given to treat high blood pressure.

Artery: a blood vessel that one can feel their pulse over.

Bacteria: organisms that cause infection.

Beeper (Pager): a small box that you carry with you when waiting for a transplant. It lets the transplant coordinator contact you when you are not at home in the event of a transplant.

Bile: green, acid like fluid that is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile aids in digestion.

Bile Ducts: a system of ducts which transport bile from the liver to the bowel where digestion takes place.

Biopsy: a procedure where a tiny piece of the liver is taken by needle insertion under local anaesthetic.

Blood Gases: special tests that are done on blood that measure the amount of oxygen in your blood. These tests show how well the lungs are working.

Blood Work [“lab”] [“numbers”]: tests done on samples of blood.

Bowel Sounds: sounds that are heard over the lower abdomen. They show that your bowels are working normally. When they are heard after surgery, it usually means you can start to eat again.

Cardiac Monitor: a machine that records the activity of the heart.

Computed Arterial Tomogram [C.T.] [“CAT Scan”]: a special type of x-ray that shows your inner organs and collections of fluid.

Cholangiogram: this is an x-ray of the bile ducts that drain bile from your liver. These x-rays are taken after dye is injected into the T-tube.

Common Bile Duct: a duct that drains bile from your gallbladder and liver into your bowel.

Cyclosporine Level: a blood test that measures the amount of cyclosporine in your system. This is measured 12 hours after your last dose of cyclosporine.

Doppler Studies: a specialized ultrasound test that assesses blood flow.

Electrocardiogram: a simple test that records the electrical impulses of the heart.

Electrolytes [“lytes”]: these are ions found in the blood. Examples that are routinely tested are potassium, chloride, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.

Gallbladder: an organ that collects and stores bile.

Immune System: a defense system in your body that acts against infection, diseases, and foreign tissues.

Immunosuppressant Drugs: these are drugs that reduce the defense systems’ ability to act against foreign tissues.

Jaundice: a condition where the skin and/or the eyes become yellow. This indicates that the liver is not working well.

Jackson-Pratt Drains [“J.P.’s]: three small drains in the abdominal area that drain fluid from around the liver after transplantation.

Rejection: this is your body’s normal response to a transplanted organ; the immune system tries to destroy foreign tissues. Immunosuppressant drugs reduce the chance of rejection by decreasing the immune system’s ability to fight against foreign tissues.

Sclerotherapy: a treatment that may be used to treat bleeding in the esophagus or esophageal varices.

T-tube: a tube on the outside of the body that drains bile from the common bile duct after a transplant.

Ulcers: raw areas on the lining of the mouth, stomach or bowel. They can be caused by stress and sometimes occur after surgery.

Ultrasound: a special x-ray that shows the condition of the liver and surrounding organs.

Varices [“esophageal varices”]: dilated, or swollen blood vessels in the esophagus, between your throat and stomach.

Ventilator: a machine that helps patients who are unable to breathe on their own, immediately after the transplant.

Viruses: “bugs” that can cause infection.