Glossary of Terms
Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
a hereditary condition causing the lack of a protein needed for healthy lungs It is responsible for some cases of emphysema
Alveoli
tiny sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged
Anastomoses
the connections used in lung transplant surgery to attach your new lungs
Anesthesia
medicine given by injection or mouth that causes partial or complete loss of feeling for a period of time, usually during surgery
Antirejection Medicine
(See Immunosuppressants)
Antibiotics
drugs taken to prevent infections and kill bacteria
Antihypertensive
medicine that prevents or controls high blood pressure
Aspirin
pain reliever taken by mouth; also helps to prevent blood clot formation Pre- and post-transplant patients should not take aspirin without consulting the team Tylenol® is normally used instead
Azathioprine
immunosupressive drug used mainly to prevent the body from rejecting an organ or tissue transplant (See Imuran®)
Bilateral Lung Transplant
double lung transplant
Biopsy
(short term for lung biopsy; see also bronchoscopy)
Breast Self Exam (BSE)
monthly check of the breasts for lumps or tumors that could be cancerous
Bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchi – the tiny tubes in the lungs that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide
Bronchoscopy
a procedure used regularly after lung transplant to check for infection or rejection
Bronchi
tiny tubes in the lungs that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide
Cancer
disease in which abnormal cells multiply out of control and disrupt normal cell or organ function
Capillaries
tiny blood vessels
Cardiovascular
relating to the heart and the blood vessels or to the circulation of blood
Cataract
thickening of the eye lens in one or both eyes that impairs vision and often leads to blindness
Catheter
tube, generally small and flexible, inserted into the body, to infuse medications, monitor organ function and drain fluid
Catheterization
inserting a tube into the body
Cervical Cancer
cancer of the cervix
Chemotherapy
the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells
Cholesterol
fat substance found in animal meats, dairy products and produced by the liver; a high level of cholesterol in the blood is a risk factor for developing heart disease Blood cholesterol can be elevated by cyclosporine
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
a condition causing breathing difficulty because the air flow out of the bronchial tubes of the lungs is partially blocked
Clinical Nutritionist
specialist in selecting foods that repair or maintain the body
Congenital
existing at birth
Coronary Arteries
blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart
Cyclosporine
drug that helps keep the body from rejecting a transplanted organ Neoral® and Sandimmune® are different types of cyclosporine and cannot be interchanged Gengraf® is a generic brand of Neoral® which may not presently be available
Cystic Fibrosis
a hereditary chronic disease causing excess mucous production in the lungs
Dermatology
study and treatment of skin
Denervation
cutting or blocking the nerve supply
Diabetes
the body’s inability to control the amount of insulin or blood sugar it produces for energy
Diaphragm
the muscle separating the abdomen from the lungs that helps with breathing
Diastolic Blood Pressure
bottom number of the blood pressure reading that shows the amount of resistance in the blood vessels that the heart has to overcome
Donor
person who gives an organ to be used in another person
Echocardiogram
laboratory test that uses reflected sound wave images to see the heart
Edema
swelling of body tissue caused by fluid leaking from blood vessels
Emphysema
an obstructive lung disease in which the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lung) are stretched or distorted, making it difficult to breathe Emphysema is most often caused by cigarette smoking
Endocarditis
an infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart caused when bacteria get into the blood stream
Endotracheal Tube
long tube used to provide an airway into the lungs
End-stage Lung Disease
a condition that leads to failure of the lungs
Enzyme
protein that helps complete chemical reactions without being changed in the process
FEV1
Forced Expiratory Volume in the 1st second Usually reported as a percent of that of a healthy person of your height, age, gender and race
Fluid Retention
condition in which the body stores fluid
Foley Catheter
tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine
Gallbladder
organ that stores bile
Gallstones
stones that form when the bile has too much cholesterol
Glaucoma
eye disease in which increased pressure on the eyeball damages the optic nerve and eventually can lead to blindness
Heart Attack
blockage of a vessel that feeds the heart muscle, causing sudden tissue death (myocardial infarction)
Heart Monitor
A device that records and displays information about the heart, including condition and number beats
Idiopathic
arising from an unknown or obscure cause
Immune System
your body’s natural defense system against foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria, some types of cancers, and sometimes transplanted organs
Immunization
giving antibodies or other agents to protect against disease
Immunosuppressants
drugs that help treat or prevent the immune system from rejecting an organ transplant
Immunosuppression
process of preventing the body’s immune system from rejecting an organ transplant
Imuran®
immunosuppressive drug used mainly to prevent the body from rejecting an organ transplant
Infection
condition in which the body is invaded by a disease-causing micro-organism
Interstitial Lung Disease
inflammatory condition of the lung parenchyma or framework resulting in progressive replacement of gas exchange units (alveoli or air sacs) by scar tissue
Intravenous (IV)
a catheter (small tube) inserted into a vein so that fluid, blood or medicine can be received
Lab Draw
process of taking blood or urine for laboratory analysis
Laboratory (Lab)
place where blood and specimens are studied and identified
Laxative
food or chemical substance that acts as a stool softener
Lesion
injury or wound to skin or tissue
LifeLink
an independent nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization
Lipitor
drug that lowers cholesterol
Magnesium Oxide
white, odorless powder used after transplant to counteract cyclosporine’s tendency to lower magnesium levels in the blood; low magnesium can cause heart rhythm problems or muscle cramps
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
a diagnostic technique which uses magnetic fields to make cross-sectional images of organs and structures inside the body
Mammography
screening process for early detection of breast cancer
Medic Alert
nonprofit organization that provides a bracelet or necklace with your personal medical information which can be used by medical personnel in case you have a car accident or other type of emergency
Mevacor®
drug that lowers cholesterol
Mg
milligram
Monopril®
drug that lowers blood pressure
Mycelex® Troche
anti-fungal agent which lowers the growth of yeast that can cause infection
Mycostatin®
trade name for the drug nystatin (See nystatin)
Mylanta®
common over-the-counter drug used to relieve upset stomach
Native Lungs
your diseased lungs; the lungs you were born with
Neoral®
(See cyclosporine)
Norvasc®
drug used to prevent heart spasms and lower blood pressure
Nystatin
antifungal agent used to prevent infections
Ophthalmologist
physician who studies and treats the eye
Pap Smear
test in which cells from the vagina and cervix are collected then analyzed to detect cancer
Pathologist
specialist who diagnoses abnormal changes in tissue removed during an operation
Pleura
protective layers of tissue surrounding the lungs
Pneumococcal
bacterial microorganism which causes pneumonia
Pneumonia
infection of the lungs
Post-transplant
after transplantation
PRA (Panel Reactive Antibiotics)
likelihood of already having antibodies against potential donors; if high likelihood pre-cross match tests are performed pre-transplant
Prednisone
medication used to limit rejection of a transplanted organ or tissue
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
high blood pressure of the pulmonary vessels in the heart
Prostate
gland around the neck of the bladder and urethra in males that secretes ejaculatory fluid
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
special blood test recommended for men over the age of 50 to screen for prostate cancer
Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
nurse specially trained to help you and your family deal with behavioral and mental issues such as stress, anxiety, depression and addiction
Psychiatrist
physician who diagnoses and treats mental disorders
Pulmonary Artery
blood vessel that carries blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs
Pulmonary Artery Catheter
a long, flexible tube inserted through your neck vein into the pulmonary artery; used to measure pressures in your heart and lungs, and evaluate your heart function
Pulmonary Fibrosis
a progressive inflammation of the lung tissue that causes permanent scarring
Pulmonary Hypertension
a disorder of the lungs characterized by progressive high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs and heart Primary pulmonary hypertension does not have a known cause and onset may occur at any age, while secondary pulmonary hypertension has a definite cause (ie from liver diseases, SLE or other illness)
Pulmonary Valve
structure between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery; regulates movement of fluid into the pulmonary artery
Pulmonologist
doctor who studies and treats diseases of the lungs
Ranitidine
(See Zantac®)
Rectal
lower part of the colon or large intestine
Rejection
condition in which recipient’s body rejects organ transferred from a donor
Renal
pertaining to the kidneys
Riopan®
medicine that reduces stomach acid
Sandimmune®
trade name of cyclosporine (See cyclosporine)
Sarcoidosis
a chronic, progressive disease marked by inflammation of many organs, especially the lungs
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE)
a disease of the immune system
Status
patient’s current condition
Sternum
narrow, flat bone that connects the ribs or the shoulder girdle or both; also referred to as the breastbone
Swan-Ganz Catheter
see pulmonary artery catheter
Systolic Blood Pressure
amount of force used by the heart to eject blood out of the heart; the top number read as part of blood pressure
Testicular
relating to the male reproductive glands that produce reproductive cells and the hormone testosterone
Tetanus
infectious disease that causes painful muscle contractions; also known as lockjaw
Trachea
the tube connecting the larynx and the bronchi
Transplant Coordinator
specially trained, registered nurse who coordinates care for patients before and after transplantation
Transplant Surgeon
cardiothoracic surgeon who performs the transplant operation
Transplantation
transfer of living tissue or organs from one person to another
Transverse Sternotomy
a clam-shaped incision on the chest that extends from the right side to the left side just below the breast line
Ultrasound
device that uses ultrasonic waves to outline the shape of various tissues and organs of the body
UNOS
United Network for Organ Sharing, a national agency that maintains a national computerized transplant waiting list and matches donor organs and recipients
Vaccination
injection that builds your body’s resistance to an infection
Ventilator
mechanical device which controls and monitors flow of air to the lungs
Ventricle
either of two lower chambers of the heart The right chamber pumps blood to the lungs to be oxygenated, while the left venticle is a powerful muscle that pumps the oxygenated blood throughout your body through your arteries
Vital Signs
temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure
Zantac®
drug used to treat stomach problems like peptic ulcers and heart burn
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