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

Transplant Center