Glossary of Terms

tvtinfo

A blog about TVT and mesh implants used in pelvic surgery…

Search

Glossary of Terms

The following is a glossary of common terms used in urogynaecology and urology. At the bottom of the page you will find some links to websites where you can get further definitions of these and other medical terms.

TERM	DEFINITION
adverse event	undesirable, unfavourable or harmful result
autologous	sourced from the patient’s own body
BAUS	British Association of Urological Surgeons
Burch colposuspension	an operation to lift the bladder neck into the correct position to prevent urine leaking. First developed by a surgeon called Burch.
calculi	stones
catheterisation	insertion of a slender tube through the urethra into the bladder to allow urine drainage.
CISC	Clean Intermittent Self-Catheterisation
CMG	cystometrogram a line graph that records urinary bladder pressure at various volumes
cystocele	‘dropped bladder’, herniation or bulging of the bladder into the vagina
cystoscopy	viewing the bladder with an instrument called a cystoscope to check for abnormalities
de novo	new, beginning
detrusor muscle	bladder muscle
distal urethra	part of urethra furthest away from bladder neck
dyspareunia	pain occurring during sexual intercourse
dysuria	pain or difficulty urinating
erosion	the wearing away of tissue
excision	cutting out, removal
explantation	removal of something implanted in the body
FDA	Food and Drug Administration: agency in US responsible for ensuring that foods, drugs, vaccines and medical devices are safe and effective
fibroblasts	large flat cells in connective tissue that produce collagen and elastic fibres
fibrosis	a thickening and scarring of connective tissue usually following injury, infection, or surgery
haematuria	presence of red blood cells in the urine
implant	something inserted in the tissues or organs of the body during a surgical procedure
intravesical	inside the bladder
irritable bladder	involuntary contractions of muscles in the bladder, which can cause lack of urinary control.
ISD	Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency: weakening of the urethra sphincter muscles which causes the sphincter not to function normally regardless of the position of the bladder neck or urethra. A cause of stress urinary incontinence.
laparoscopy	key hole surgery involving small incisions which allow special camera and instruments to be introduced. less invasive and requiring a shorter recovery period than open surgery.
lysis	destruction
medical device	a tool or machine designed to perform a task or job
mixed incontinence	having both stress and urge incontinence
MHRA	Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
morbidities	presence or frequency of disease
MRI	Magnetic Resonance Imaging – used to view inside body. Produces detailed images of organs and structures inside body.
NICE	National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
OAB	overactive bladder: involuntary bladder muscle contractions during the bladder filling phase which the patient cannot suppress
perforation	making a hole or piercing something
PFMT	pelvic floor muscle training – or pelvic floor exercises, kegel exercises. Used to improve pelvic muscle tone and prevent leakage in those with stress urinary incontinence.
polypropylene	a type of plastic, made from petroleum products. Brand names include: ‘prolene’
POP	pelvic organ prolapse (see below)
prolapse	slippage or falling away of organ from proper or usual place in the body
proximal urethra	part of urethra nearest the bladder neck
PVR	Post Void Residual: the amount of urine left in your bladder after emptying it normally – can be measured using scanner (ultrasound) or catheter drainage
pyuria	excessive white blood cells in the urine – usually an indication of kidney or urinary tract infection.
RCT	Randomised Control Trial
rectocele	a herniation or bulging of the rectum into the vagina
resection	surgical removal of something
sling	supportive strap, loop or hammock made either of tissue obtained from the patient or a synthetic material
sphincter	ring of muscle fibres located around urethra which control passage of urine
stricture	narrowing of a channel eg urethra
sub-urethral	under the urethra
SUI	Stress Urinary Incontinence: caused by urethral hypermobility and/or intrinsic sphincter deficiency – involuntary loss of urine during periods of increased abdominal pressure eg when laughing, sneezing, coughing or lifting heavy objects
synthetic	made by chemical processes and not occurring naturally
tape division	dividing the tape by cutting across it
transection	cutting across something, dividing
trocars	sharply pointed steel rod (like huge needle) inserted into the body which leads the way for the mesh implant and is then removed once implant in place
TVT	Tension-Free Vaginal Tape: a medical device consisting of a long slim mesh strip made of woven polypropylene fibres intended to support the urethra during moments of increased abdominal pressure. Intended to be a permanent implant.
UI	Urge Incontinence: the involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden and strong urge to urinate
ureter	one of a pair of narrow tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder
urethra	the narrow tube or pipe that carries urine from the bladder out of the body
urethral diverticulum	a pouch in the lining of the mucous membrane of the urethra
urethral hypermobility	condition where the pelvic floor muscles can no longer provide the necessary support to the urethra and bladder neck and so the bladder neck drops when any downward pressure is applied, causing involuntary leakage. A cause of stress incontinence.
urethral stricture	narrowing of the urethra
urge/urgency	strong desire to empty bladder
UI	Urinary Incontinence – uncontrolled loss of urine
urodynamics	tests to determine the function of the urinary bladder, urethral sphincter, and pelvic floor muscles
urology	study of the urinary tract in both genders, (in the male it includes the genital tract or reproductive system)
UTI	Urinary Tract Infection. Often caused by bacteria such as e coli. a urinary tract infection may cause frequent urination, pain, burning when urinating, and blood in the urine.
voiding dysfunction	difficulties in emptying the bladder eg incomplete emptying, slow flow etc