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Globetrotter's Pocket Doc - the only English international medical communication book for travelers to foreign countries
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- Barium:
- A white liquid used by radiologists to outline the inside of the GI tract so that x-rays may be obtained.
- Barium Enema:
- Also called a lower GI series, this radiologic procedure is an evaluation of the colon. Barium is used to outline the inside of the colon while x-rays are obtained.
- Barrett's Esophagus:
- A change in the lining of the esophagus from normal columnar cells to intestinal metaplasia type cells. This is a precancerous condition. The diagnosis of Barrett's Esophagus is made by endoscopy and tissue biopsy. The is the only manner in which the diagnosis can currently be confirmed. Patients with Barretts esophagus should be followed periodically by endoscopy according the recommendations by the American College of Gastroenterology.
- Bernstein Test:
- A test sometimes employed by today. In the past, it has been used commonly to identify whether chest pain is secondary to acid reflux into the esophagus. This test is performed by tripping a mild acid solution into the esophagus in monitoring the response of the patient. The test is not commonly used today because of the variability of interpretation.
- Bezoar:
- A ball of undigested food that is present in the stomach.
- Bile:
- A complex fluid manufactured in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile assists pancreatic enzymes in breaking down fats so they may be absorbed in the small intestine.
- Bile acids:
- One component of bile. A family of compounds not related to the hydrochloric acid present in the stomach. This group of compounds may be either water loving (hydrophilic) or hydrophobic (fat loving). Certain compositions of bile acids predispose patients to the development of gallstones. The medication ursodiol is used to make the bile acid composition more hydrophilic, thus helping to dissolve gallstones or sludge.
- Bile ducts:
- The tubular structures that range from microscopic size located between cells of the liver to larger structures outside of the liver. The gallbladder is attached to the bile ducts.
- Biliary tract:
- The term used to describe the gallbladder and bile ducts together. Other terms include the hepatobiliary system and the biliary tree.
- Bilirubin:
- A breakdown product of hemoglobin. When red blood cells are old, the spleen traps these red blood cells and breaks down hemoglobin, iron and cell membrane components. Hemoglobin is then transported to liver and metabolized into bilirubin. Bilirubin causes jaundice (yellowing of the eyes) when patients have bile duct obstructions.
- Budd-Chiari syndrome:
- A rare liver disease in which a blood clot occurs in the large vein leading from the liver. This large vein is called hepatic vein. When the clot occurs and this vein is obstructed patients develop ascites.
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