Medical Glossary

echocardiogram

A medical test in which sound waves are used to produce an image of the heart through a non-invasive procedure.

electrocardiogram

The curve traced by an electrocardiograph.

electrocautery

The process of destroying tissue with electricity. Widely used in modern surgical practices, this procedure is frequently used to stop bleeding of small vessels or for cutting through soft tissue (such as abdominal fat in a laparotomy or breast tissue in a mastectomy).

electrocoagulation

Electrosurgical procedures used to treat hemorrhage and to ablate tumors, mucosal lesions, and refractory arrhythmias.

electrode

Medium used between an electric conductor and the object to which the current is to be applied. In electrotherapy, electrodes are instruments with a point or surface from which to transmit electric current to the body of a patient or to another instrument; in electrodiagnosis, they are needles or metal plates used to stimulate or record the electrical activity of tissue.

electron microscope

A class of medical equipment that uses electrons rather than visible light to produce magnified images, especially of objects having dimensions smaller than the wavelengths of visible light, with linear magnification approaching or exceeding one million.

electrosurgery

The surgical use of high-frequency electric current for cutting or destroying tissue, as in cauterization.

Electrosurgery is performed using an electrosurgery unit / electrosurgical generator (also referred to as power supply or waveform generator) and a handpiece including one or several electrodes, sometimes referred to as an RF Knife. The apparatus when used for coagulation in surgery is still often referred to informally by surgeons as a "Bovie," after the inventor.

electrosurgical generator

Also referred to as a Power Supply or Waveform Generator. Medical equipment used during electrosurgery with a handpiece including one or several electrodes.

end tidal

A medical term used to describe the state pertaining to or occurring at the end of a normal exhalation.

end tidal CO2

A measurement of the carbon dioxide in the air exhaled from the body. The normal value is 4% to 6%, which is equivalent to 35 to 45 mm Hg.

endoscope

A device consisting of a tube with a light and a lens on the end which may be inserted into a body opening or incision. An endoscope can be flexible or rigid. Typically used to examine hollow organs inside the body, including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon, or rectum, but also used to take tissue from the body for testing. Optionally, an endoscope can be attached to a camera to take color photographs of the inside of the body or for viewing on a video screen.

endoscopy

A scope that can be used to visualize the inside of the body, either through insertion into a tiny incision or by passing the scope through a body opening (such as the mouth or anus). Endoscopy is used to examine, biopsy, or surgically treat a variety of conditions. Types of endoscopy include arthroscopy (joints); bronchoscopy (bronchial tubes, lungs); colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy (large intestine); colposcopy (vagina, cervix); gastroscopy (stomach, small intestine); laparoscopy (abdomen); and others.

endotracheal tube

A breathing tube, used during induction and intubation, usually made of flexible plastic, inserted in a patient€™s trachea to open and protect the airway so air is able to reach the patient€™s lungs.

ESG

Acronym for electrosurgical generator, also known as an electrosurgical unit, or ESU. Medical equipment which powers an electrosurgical system with electricity at an appropriate voltage, frequency and waveform for cutting or for coagulation, as required.

ESU

Acronym for electrosurgical unit, also known as an electrosurgical generator, or ESG. This device powers an electrosurgical system with electricity at an appropriate voltage, frequency and waveform for cutting or for coagulation, as required.

ETCO2

See listing for End Tidal CO2

ethrane

A nonflammable liquid used as an inhalation general anesthetic.

exercise stress test

Also known as a "treadmill test," this term refers to a test which is performed to determine irregular heart rhythms which may occur during exercise.