Anesthesiologist - a physician who has completed four years of anesthesia training.

Aspiration -inhalation of stomach contents into the windpipe and lungs.

Attending -a physician who has completed the required training in a particular field.

Autologous Blood -blood that you donate for yourself prior to your surgery.

Board Certified -certification granted by an association stating that the recipient has fulfilled all the training requirements in addition to passing a written and an oral exam in that field.

Bowel Prep -enemas and other medications given to clean the bowel of any stool in preparation for surgery.

Capnograph -monitor used to detect exhaled carbon dioxide.

Carbon Dioxide -the gas that is exhaled every time one breathes.

Catheter -any flexible tube, e.g. IV, epidural, Foley.

Clear Liquids -water, apple juice, Pedialyte.

Coumadin -a blood thinner in pill form.

CRNA -certified registered nurse anesthetist. A registered nurse who has completed an additional two years of training in nurse anesthesia. Most CRNAs are supervised by an anesthesiology attending.

CSF -cerebrospinal fluid. Fluid that bathes the brain, spinal cord and nerves that come off the spinal cord.

Designated Donor -blood that is donated for you by someone you know with the same blood type.

Diabetes -a disorder of sugar control in the body.

Epidural Anesthesia -placement of a small catheter near the CSF so that an infusion of medication can be given continuously to achieve pain relief. Can be used during and after the operation.

Esophagus -the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.

Ether -the first inhalation anesthetic used in 1846. No longer used in the operating room.

Foley Catheter -a plastic catheter placed into the bladder to drain urine.

Heparin -a blood thinner that is given as injection or IV.

ICU -intensive care unit. Can be cardiac, medical, neonatal, neurological, pediatric, respiratory or surgical.

Incentive Spirometer -a machine that is designed to expand your lungs after surgery.

Inhalation Anesthesia- General anesthesia achieved by the inhalation of anesthetic vapors.

Insulin -medication used to control the blood sugar.

Intubation -placing a flexible breathing tube into the windpipe to assist or control breathing.

IV -an intravenous. A plastic catheter placed in the vein to administer fluid or medication.

MAC -monitored anesthesia care- when a minor procedure is performed with the patient awake or mildly sedated by the anesthesiologist.

Malignant Hyperthermia- a severe inherited reaction to certain anesthetics.

NPO -nothing by mouth. Usually with a time limit: e.g., NPO after midnight.

OR operating room.

PABA -para-amino-benzoic-acid. A chemical found in many sunscreens and a breakdown product of certain local anesthetics.

PACU -post anesthesia care unit. Synonymous for the recovery room.

PCA -patient controlled analgesia. A device connected to the intravenous that delivers pain medication, which the patient controls.

Pre-induction area -an area immediately adjacent to the operating room where monitors are placed and IVs are started before the operation.

Pre-medication -medicine received before an operation: e.g., sedatives, pain medication, antacids.

Pulse Oximeter -a device used to estimate the amount of oxygen that is in your bloodstream.

Reflux - a condition that predisposes someone to heartburn.

Regional Anesthesia -when a part or "region" of your body is anesthetized for surgery.

Resident -a physician who is training in a particular field.

Sodium Pentothal -an intravenous medication that is used to make you fall asleep.

Spinal Anesthesia -placement of medication into the CSF to create a region of anesthesia, usually the lower body.

Trachea -the windpipe that connects the nose and mouth to the lungs.

URI -upper respiratory tract infection. Synonymous for a cold.