Bronchoscopy and lung biopsy – A medical test where a doctor puts a thin, light tube called a bronchoscope through your nose or mouth, down your windpipe, and into your lungs to take tiny tissue samples to test for rejection.
Cardiac biopsy – A medical procedure where a doctor guides a thin tube called a catheter through a blood vessel, usually in the neck , into the heart to take tiny tissue samples of the heart muscle to test for rejection.
Cardiac catheterisation ( angiography) – A procedure which involves a catheter ( a thin flexible tube) through a blood vessel to the heart.
Cytomegalovirus ( CMV) – A very common virus that causes symptoms similar to a mild cold. Once you’ve had the CMV virus , you carry it around your body without it doing harm. However, if you have had a transplant, you may develop a more serious form of illness from the transplanted organ if you haven’t had the virus before.
DBD – Donation after brain death. Is a type of organ donation that takes place after a person has been diagnosed with brain stem death which means the brain has permanently stopped functioning.
DCD – Donation after circulatory death. Is a type of organ donation that takes place after a person has died, following the permanent cessation of their heart and circulation.
Echocardiogram (Echo) – An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart to monitor function of the heart muscle and /or valves.
EVLP – Ex- vivo lung perfusion. Is a technique used to assess and improve donor lungs before transplant.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – ECMO is a temporary life support system used for people whoa heart or lungs have stopped working properly. it can be used for people whose hearts have been artificially stopped during surgery to help take the strain off their system after the operation. The ECMO machine is similar to a heart- lung bypass machine used for open heart surgery. Extracorporeal means outside the body and membrane oxygenator is a piece of equipment which delivers oxygen into the blood.
Gallstones – Solid lumps or stones that form in the gallbladder or bile duct. They are formed when some of the chemicals stored in the gallbladder harden into a mass. One stone may develop or many smaller stones.
HLA – Human Leukocyte Antigens are proteins or markers on most cells in your body. Your immune system uses HLA to see which cells belong in your body and which do not.
Immunosuppressant medicines – Medicines that help prevent your immune system from attacking (rejecting) a transplanted organ. They also make your body less effective at fighting off infections, but they are an important part of your therapy after transplantation. Anyone who has had a transplant will need to take immunosuppressant medicines everyday for the rest of their life.
Intravenous infusion – This is when liquid (e.g. fluid or medicines) are administered to a patient via a vein.
MRSA screening – During an MRSA screening test a swab is wiped over part of your body to find out if you carry the MRSA bacterium. MRSA ( Methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a bacterium responsible for many infections in humans that can be difficult to treat.
Obliterative bronchiolitis ( O.B. or B.O.S.) A type of lung disease in which the bronchioles (small airway branches) are compressed and narrowed by fibrosis ( scar tissue) or inflammation.
OCS – Organ care system. Is a portable machine used to preserve and assess donor hearts during transportation for transplantation.
Oral thrush – A fungal infection in the mucous membranes of the mouth.
Pacemaker – A small device that is placed under the skin in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. A pacemaker is connected to the heart by pacing wires.
Pacing box – A pacing box is similar in function to a pacemaker but is used externally, i.e. it is not placed under the skin. A pacing box is connected to the heart by pacing wires.
Pacing wires – Pacing wires connect the pacing box or pacemaker to the heart to provide electrical stimulation to help control abnormal heart rhythms
Perfusion scan – A test that is used to evaluate the circulation of air and blood in the lungs. A tiny amount of radioactive dye is injected into your vein. a camera rotates near your chest to take 3D -style pictures showing which areas absorb the dye.
Pulmonary hypertension – Is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein or pulmonary capillaries, leading to a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting. Pulmonary hypertension can be a severe disease with a markedly decreased exercise tolerance and heart failure.
Sputum – Mucus and other matter brought up from the lungs by coughing.
Sternotomy – A surgical procedure in which an incision is made along the length of your sternum ( breast bone).
Tissue Typing – A procedure in which blood samples from a prospective donor and recipient are tested for compatibility prior to transplant.
Urinary catheter – A thin plastic tube that is gently inserted into a patient’s bladder via the urethra. This is performed by a doctor or nurse. It allows urine to drain freely from the bladder.
Ventilator – A machine designed to mechanically move air into and out of the lungs to provide the mechanism of breathing for a patient who is physically unable to breath, or is breathing insufficiently.
Ventricular Assist Device ( VAD) – A specialised mechanical pump that is surgically implanted. It is used to partially or completely replace the function of a failing heart and helps to circulate blood around the body. Some VADs are intended for short term use, while others are intended for long term use.
10 degree fridge – Lungs used for transplant using the 10 degree fridge. To help us accept more lungs for transplant we are now using a new method to preserve and store lungs at 10 degrees rather than storing on ice. There is evidence that 10 degrees can effectively preserve lung function foe up to 36 hours. This means that the lungs could be stored overnight for transplant during the day. The storage time of the organ you receive will never be more than 12 hours.