Glossary of terms

(Ostomist)

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Abdominoperineal excision of rectum (APER/APR)
A surgical procedure involving excision of the rectum and anus with closure of the perineum resulting in a permanent colostomy. Is usually performed for very low rectal/anal cancers.

Abscess
A localized collection of pus in a cavity. Symptoms include pain and pyrexia due to infection.

Absorption
Digested nutrients and fluids are absorbed via the gastrointestinal system into the blood. Disease or surgery may reduce the body's capacity to absorb nutrients and fluids.

Acute Abdomen

A serious condition within the abdomen characterized by sudden onset, pain, tenderness, and muscular rigidity, and usually requiring emergency surgery. Also called surgical abdomen.

Adenocarcinoma
Cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs and that have glandular (secretory) properties. 95% of cancers arising in the large bowel are adenocarcinomas.

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Adenoma

This term is applied to a tumour, usually benign, in glandular tissue

Adhesions

Scar tissues that attach to the surfaces of organs following surgery or sepsis infection. Bands of this fibrous scar tissue cause the joining together of two surfaces which normally should be separate. For example, loops of bowel.

Adjuvant therapy

Using therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy in combination to achieve more effective results than using a treatment alone
Adjuvant therapy can be given pre- or post-surgery for the treatment of bowel cancer

Alginate wafer
Alginates are a naturally occurring substance derived from brown seaweed. Because of their ability to control bleeding they are used in the manufacture of wound dressings.They are able to provide a base for bioactive dressings by incorporating growth factors (naturally occurring proteins) which stimulate cell growth. Oakmed has now adopted this concept to develop a wafer/baseplate which manages sore and broken peristomal skin helping it to heal quickly.

Alimentary canal

This term is another word for the gastrointestinal tract. It refers to the entire system starting in the mouth and following through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum.
See Gastro intestinal tract

Allergic contact dermatitis

Is an inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with a specific substance causing a sensitivity.

Allergy

A general term to describe an abnormal immune response to a usually harmless substance.

Anaemia

A shortage of red blood cells. Anaemia is associated with pallor, weakness, breathlessness and reduced energy. Iron and erythropoetin can improve the condition.

Anal canal
Between the rectum and the anus lies the anal canal which is 2-3 cm long and made up of the upper borders of the internal and external sphincters and the puborectalis muscle.

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Anal Fissure

A small tear or cut in the skin around the anus which can cause pain and/or bleeding.

Anal sphincter
Comprises the internal sphincters (involuntary muscles) and external sphincters (voluntary constrictive muscles) to control discharge of faeces.

Anastomosis

The joining together of two ends of healthy bowel after diseased bowel has been cut out (resected) by the surgeon. An anastomosis may be hand sewn or joined by the use of surgical staples

Anismus
Involuntary contraction of anal sphincter which can contribute to constipation.

Antegrade Colonic Enema (ante grade continent enema, ACE)
The ACE refers to a continent washout stoma.
The procedure is most commonly performed in children with continence disorders. These disorders include congenital malformations such as spina bifida, imperforate anus, long-term soiling or constipation. The procedure is now also used in adults for the management of bowel dysfunction.

It is a surgical technique where one end of the appendix is re-implanted into the caecum and the other end is brought out onto the abdominal wall as a continent stoma. This provides a catheterisable channel, which facilitates the administration of an enema to empty the colon.

Anterior resection

The abdomen (tummy) is usually opened using an up and down cut in the middle of the abdomen. The low part of the sigmoid colon and part of the rectum are removed. The amount of bowel removed depends on the person and their condition.

Joining the two ends together will reconnect the bowel. However, it may not always be possible to join the ends together. In this case, the end of the bowel will be brought through the abdominal wall and opened as a stoma. Sometimes a temporary stoma is formed at the first operation to protect the join (anastomosis), and is usually closed at a further operation 3-6 months later
Anterior resections are often categorised as high or low depending on the site of the cancer.

High anterior resection is the removal of upper/mid third of rectum and lower sigmoid colon.

Low anterior resection is the removal of the lower and mid third of rectum.

Following anterior resections varying degrees of bowel dysfunction may be experienced, e.g. incontinence, diarrhoea and constipation.

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