Glossary
Learn more about robotic surgery with our glossary.
Glossary
A member of the surgical team that puts the patient to sleep before surgery, administers medication to keep the patient asleep throughout surgery, and monitors the patient’s heart and lungs.
Conventional surgery using an open incision (cut) to access the surgical area.
This describes a condition that is not cancerous.
Preparing the bowel for surgery by emptying it out as much as possible. It typically involves a clear liquid diet for 1-2 days, laxative medications by mouth, and/or enemas.
Specialized control center where the surgeon controls the camera and robotic arms inside the body to perform the surgery.
A type of surgical robotic system widely used for urologic surgery.
A blood clot in the leg which can travel to the lung and cause life-threatening complications. This can be a complication of surgery and is more likely to occur in people with cancer, recent surgery, and prolonged time in bed. Risk is decreased by walking early and often after surgery.
The respiratory muscle that expands the lungs.
A breathing machine used after surgery to re-expand the lung pockets.
A surgical drain which drains fluid from the surgery site.
The strength layer of the abdomen.
A tube that drains the bladder. This exits through the urethra (bladder or urine tube) that travels through the penis in men, and through the urethra in women. The catheter continuously drains the bladder so the surgical area can heal.
Refers to laparoscopic surgery, or surgery using a camera and long instruments through several small holes in the body.
Surgery using a camera and long instruments through several small holes in the body.
This means cancerous.
Access portals placed in the body through small holes to perform laparoscopic or robotic surgery.
A blood clot in the lung that can cause life-threatening complications. Risk is decreased by walking early and often after surgery.
A surgical approach using surgical portals through small holes in the body and attaching long thin instruments to a specialized robot.
Member of the surgical team who prepares instruments and supplies, and assists with surgery.
A position used in robotic surgery with the bed tilted such that the head is closer to the ground and the feet toward the ceiling.
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