The Gastrointestinal
Encyclopedia
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The 
Dictionary
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the GASTROLAB Digestive Dictionary
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B12-vitamin See Vitamin B12 B.A.B.Y Behaviors affecting baby and you Bacillus anthracis The spore-forming bacterium causing anthrax. See Anthrax Bacillus difficilis An old name for Clostridium difficile, first described in 1935 when found in the stools of infants. Ballance´s sign Dullness in the splenic region due to clotted blood in a patient with ruptured spleen.
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 Barium meal, stomach |
Barium meal Radiological examination of the stomach and duodenum, also used to diagnose diseases in the lower oesophagus. Fiberoptic endoscopy is now the primary diagnostic procedure in the diagnose of upper gastrointestinal complaints, but a carefully done barium meal can be of great value if the patient is inable to swallow the endoscope or if there are contraindications to endoscopy. Barium contrast medium should not be used if perforation is suspected. The patient should be fasted for about 12 hours prior to the examination.
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Barium enema Radiological examination of the colon and rectum. After emptying of the colon a tube is inserted through the anal canal, and barium liquid is inserted. The flow of the barium liquid is then followe by X-ray. Colonoscopy, an endoscopic examination of the rectum and colon, is outdating barium enema.
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 Barium swallow in a patient with achalasia |
Barium swallow Radiological examination of oesophagus. The main indication for a barium swallow is dysphagia, difficulties in swallowing. Other symptoms related the the oesophagus can more readily be investigated by endoscopi. In case of a oesophageal perforation barium contrast medium is contraindicated and a water-soluble contrast medium is used. A barium swallow can be performed without any patient preparations, but as the procedure usually is combined with a radiological examination of the stomach and duodenum, the patient should fast for the preceding hours. Barotrauma Trauma due to pneumatic pressure. Too high pneumatic pressure can cause a bowel perforation mainly in the colon during an endoscopic examination.
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Barrett, Norman Rupert (1903-1979) English thoracic surgeon, mainly known for the discovery of Barrett´s oesophagus. N R Barrett was born in Adelaide, Australia and got his education in Britain. He worked as a surgeon in St Thomas´and Brompton Hospitals and he was the chairman of Thoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland.
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 The typical endoscopic finding in Barrett´s Oesophagus |
Barrett´s Oesophagus is a condition where the normal squamous mucosa in the distal part of the oesophagus has been replaced by specialized intestinal metaplasia. This disorder is mainly caused by chronic reflux disease and it is of significant clinical interest because of it´s association with oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
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Bastedo´s sign Insufflation of air into the colon causes pain in a patient with acute appendicitis. This sign is not used in the diagnosis of appendicitis, as the maneuver of insufflating air in this condition is potentially dangerous. Bauhin´s valve Valvula Bauhini, see Valvula Bauhini BBB (Abbr) Blood Brain Barrier
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 William Beaumont |
Beaumont, William (1785 - 1853) An American surgeon, who made scientific studies concerning the physiology of the upper gastrointestinal canal from 1825 to 1834. The object of his study wqas Alexis St. Martin, a voyageur who had been severely wounded in a gun accident leaving him with an open fistulae to the stomach. Through this artificial opening Dr. Beaumont was able to examine the function of the stomach, and these studies are the first studies of the motility and secretion of the stomach in situ. The results were published in 1847 in Dr. Beaumont´s book "The physiology of digestion with experiments on the gastric juice". Dr Beaumont died accidentally in 1853.
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Behçet's disease An autoinflammatory disease which causes canker sores or ulcers in the mouth and on the genitals, and inflammation in parts of the eye. In some people, the disease also results in arthritis, skin problems, and inflammation of the digestive tract, brain, and spinal cord. Behçet's disease is common in the Middle East, Asia, and Japan; it is rare in the United States. In Middle Eastern and Asian countries, the disorder affects more men than women. In the United States, the opposite is true. Behçet's disease tends to develop in people in their twenties or thirties, but people of all ages can develop it. The exact cause of Behçet's disease is unknown. Most symptoms of the disorder are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels. (Definition by the US National Institutes of Health) Belching Voiding of gas through the moutn Benign Not cancerous. A benign tumour does not invade or destroy the surrounding tissues and does not cause metastases. A benign disease is a disease that does not cause severe harm to the patient.
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 Bezoar |
Bezoar Foreign peristent bodies af foreign material accumulated in the stomach. A bezoar can consist of different substances. Trichobezoars contains human hair and is a result of ingestion of hair, seen most often in young women. Phytobezoars are made of vegetable fibers and pharmacobezoars of medications. Poor gastric motility can lead to the formation of bezoars. Yeast bezoars is usually a complication of gastric surgery. A bezoar can be asymptomatic or cause diffuse dyspeptic symptoms. Treatment if medical if possible (using enzymatic preparations and drugs that enhance gastric motility, e.g. metoclopramide). Large trichobezoars often need surgical treatment.
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Bilirubin Bilirubin is a degeneration product ot haemoglobin. In the liver bilirubin is made water-soluble by conjugation with glucuronic acid, and the excreted in the bile. If the bilirubin cannot be conjugated sufficiently - due to excess haemolysis or to a liver disease, the result is "unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia". Gilbets syndrome is a usual cause of a slight unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. If the bilirubin is conjugated normally, but the bile flow is impaired (cholestasis) teh result is "conjugated hyperbilirubinemia". Bilirubin is yellow, and in hyperbilirubinemia the patients turns yellow, icteric. Bilirubinuria In conjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to cholestasis conjugated bilirubin can be excreted in the urine giving it a typical dark colour.
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 Theodor Billroth |
Billroth, Theodor (1829-1894) A famous surgeon, born in Germany, who in 1881 did the first successful gastric resection in the world. The methods of gastric surgery, Billroth I and Billroth II, are well known to every physician in the world. Theodor Billroth was also a great friend of music, and Johannes Brahms often visited his home.
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Binge drinking Alcohol intake "too much too fast" (4 - 5 drinks within two hours). Biomarker A characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. (Definition by US National Institute of Health). Bios (Gr) Life Black oesophagus See acute nectrotizing oesophagitis Blinded trial A medical trial where some or all of those participating in a clinical trial are not aware of which treatment is being given. "Double blinded trials" are the gold standard, in these trials the patients nor the clinicians are not aware of which treatment the patient gets, thus biases are avoided. Bloating A feeling of abdominal fullness of distension Blumberg´s sign Rebound tendernes, an indication of peritoneal irritation used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. BMD (Abbr) Bone Mineral Density BMI (Abbr) Body Mass Index Boceprevir A new drug, a so called protease inhibitor, used in the treatment of Hepatitis C, type one. In combination with interferon and ribavirin this drug has achieved cleary better results. This drug has serious side effects and should be prescribed only by doctors familiar with the treatment of Hepatitis C.
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 Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738) |
Boerhaave, Herman (1668 - 1738) A Dutch physician who in 1724 described the first known case of spontaneous oesophageal perforation causing the death of Amiral Baron de Wassenaer. This syndrome is named after dr Boerhaave. Boerhaave´s syndrome A spontaneous oesophageal perforation occuring for example as a result of a forceful vomiting. The most severe form of the Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
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Bookman´s maneuver The umbilicus is drawn down to the pubis by a finger, this exerts traction to the round ligament causing pain and a friction rub if the patient has a liver abscess. This maneuvre is sometimes used in the diagnosis of liver abscess. Borborygmi Gurgling noises from the abdomen often heard by a person sitting nearby.
Bristol stool form scale A classification of the form of the stool introduced in the 80:ies and used in evaluating the function of the large bowel and the effect of medications in the treatment of obstipation. The scale divides the types of stool into 7 cathegories: Brooke, Bryan Nicholas (1915 - 1998) An English surgeon and professor, who in the beginning of the 50ies presented a new surgical method of making an ileostomy, since called Brookes ileostomy. Professor Brooke was one of the founders of the International Ostomy Association (IOA) and he was intenselively intereresten in the art of painting. Brooke Ileostomy A method of making an artificial bowel opening presented in 1952 by professor Bryan Nicholas Brooke, UK. A small opening is created in the bowel wall and the end of the small intestine is attached into it. A plastic pouch is worn over the ileostomy the collect the bowel content coming out through the opening. The ileostomy is usually located in the lower right part of the abdomen. Brunner´s gland hamartoma A rare benign submucosal tumour in the duodenum, usually found in middle age patients. These tumours do rarely cause any symptoms like haemorrhage or obstruction. They are really very rare (about 5% of all benign duodenal tumours) and they can sometimes be removed endoscopically. BSA (Abbr) Body Surface Area Budesonide A new type of corticosteroids, which when used in the peroral or rectal treatment of Crohn´s disease is rapidly absorbed by the mucosa. This drug has a very high first-pass metabolism in the liver, which is the reason for the low risk of systemic side effects. Buerger disease A occlusive inflammatory disease of arteries and veins, mostly affecting the lower and upper limbs, causing thrombosis of the affected vessels. Smoking predisposes to this condition. The disease can also - although rarely - affect the intestinal vessels, causing strictures and perforations of the bowel. Synonym: Thromboangiitis obliterans.
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 Bulbus duodeni |
BulbitisAn inflammation in the duodenal bulb, the first part of the duodenum Bulbus duodeni The first part of the duodenum, wich has a little wider lumen than the other parts. Bulbus duodeni is located between pylorus and the descending part of the duodenum. Dudenal ulcers are typically located in the duodenal bulb.
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Bulk laxative Bran and other high fibre foods. Psylliumproducts are often used as drugs in the treatment of obstipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Burping Voiding of gas through the mouth Burys disease See Erythema elevatum diutinum Bypass The creation of a new pathway for body fluids (for example blood or bile) during a surgical procedure.
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