Medical travel glossary
Plain-language definitions of the medical, travel, insurance and visa terms you will meet in reports, quotes and hospital letters.
Surgery
- Anastomosis A surgical connection between two structures, like two ends of bowel or two blood vessels.
- Anesthesiologist A physician specialist who manages anesthesia and patient safety during surgery.
- Epidural anesthesia Anesthesia injected into the epidural space to numb the lower body.
- ERAS Enhanced Recovery After Surgery — evidence-based protocols that shorten hospital stay and improve post-op outcomes.
- General anesthesia Anesthesia that puts the patient fully unconscious for surgery.
- Hematoma A localized collection of blood outside blood vessels, often a post-surgical complication.
- Laparoscopy Minimally invasive surgery through small incisions using a camera and instruments.
- Minimally invasive surgery Surgical approach using small incisions and specialized instruments instead of a large open incision.
- Regional block (anesthesia) Anesthesia delivered around specific nerves to numb a body region.
- Robotic surgery Minimally invasive surgery using robotic instruments controlled by the surgeon at a console.
- Seroma A pocket of clear fluid that can collect after surgery, especially after tissue dissection.
- Spinal anesthesia Anesthesia injected into the spinal fluid to numb the lower body.
- Stoma A surgically created opening from an internal organ to the body surface.
- Surgical drain A tube placed during surgery to remove fluid or blood from the operative site.
- Surgical site infection (SSI) Infection of the wound or deeper operative site after surgery.
- Suture removal The procedure to remove non-absorbable stitches after wound healing.
- Wound care The post-operative management of surgical wounds to prevent infection and promote healing.
Pharmacology
- Antibiotic prophylaxis Antibiotics given before surgery to prevent infection.
- Anticoagulant A medication that slows blood clotting; commonly called a blood thinner.
- Antiemetic A medication that prevents or treats nausea and vomiting.
- Bridging therapy Short-acting anticoagulation given when long-acting blood thinners are paused for surgery.
- Chemotherapy Cancer treatment using drugs to kill or slow cancer-cell growth.
- Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) A class of newer blood thinners that don't require routine INR monitoring.
- Heparin A short-acting injectable anticoagulant used in hospital and for bridging.
- Immunosuppressant A medication that dampens the immune system, used after transplant or in autoimmune disease.
- Immunotherapy Cancer treatment that activates the immune system to attack cancer cells.
- INR (International Normalized Ratio) A standardized blood test that measures how slow your blood is clotting on warfarin.
- Multimodal analgesia Pain management combining several drug classes to reduce opioid need and side effects.
- Opioid A class of pain medication; highly effective but with addiction and dependence risks.
- Rejection (transplant) The immune system attacking a transplanted organ; managed with immunosuppression adjustments.
- Tacrolimus A common immunosuppressant used after organ transplantation.
- Targeted therapy Cancer drugs that target specific molecular features of tumor cells.
- Warfarin A long-established anticoagulant requiring regular INR blood-test monitoring.
Imaging
- Angiography Imaging of blood vessels, often using injected contrast and X-ray or CT.
- Biopsy A procedure to remove tissue for laboratory examination.
- CBCT (Cone-Beam CT) A 3D dental and ENT imaging technique using a cone-shaped X-ray beam.
- CT scan Computed tomography — cross-sectional X-ray imaging used for bone, vascular, and organ evaluation.
- DEXA scan A low-radiation X-ray test that measures bone density.
- Echocardiogram (Echo) An ultrasound of the heart, used to assess function and structure.
- MRI Magnetic resonance imaging — detailed imaging of soft tissues using magnetic fields, no radiation exposure.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) High-resolution imaging of the retina, cornea, or other tissues using light waves.
- Panoramic X-ray (OPG) A 2D X-ray showing the full upper and lower jaw, teeth, and surrounding structures.
- Pathology The laboratory analysis of tissue and cells for diagnosis.
- PET scan Positron emission tomography — functional imaging showing metabolic activity, mostly used in oncology staging.
- Ultrasound (US) Imaging using high-frequency sound waves; non-radiating, real-time, operator-dependent.
Cardiology
- Ablation A procedure that destroys abnormal tissue using heat, cold, or electrical energy.
- Angioplasty Minimally invasive procedure to open blocked arteries using a balloon catheter and metallic stent.
- Antiplatelet therapy Medication that prevents platelets from clumping; used after stenting and in stroke prevention.
- Arrhythmia An abnormal heart rhythm, including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
- CABG Coronary artery bypass grafting — open-chest surgery to route blood around blocked coronary arteries using grafted vessels.
- ECG (Electrocardiogram) A test that records the heart's electrical activity through electrodes on the skin.
- Ejection fraction (EF) The percentage of blood pumped out of the heart's left ventricle with each beat.
- Heart failure A condition where the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
- PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) A minimally invasive procedure to open blocked coronary arteries, often with stenting.
- Stent A small mesh tube placed in a blood vessel to keep it open.
- TAVR Transcatheter aortic valve replacement — replacing a faulty aortic valve via catheter instead of open-heart surgery.
Insurance
- Coinsurance The percentage of medical costs you pay after meeting your deductible.
- Copay A fixed amount you pay for a covered service (e.g., $30 per visit).
- Deductible The amount you pay out of pocket before insurance starts covering costs.
- Escrow Holding funds with a neutral third party until specified conditions are met.
- Exchange rate The price of one currency in terms of another at a specific time.
- Health maintenance organization A health plan that limits care to an in-network provider set, typically with a primary care gatekeeper.
- Insurance claim A formal request for reimbursement filed with an insurance company.
- Out-of-network Healthcare providers who don't have a contract with your insurance company.
- Out-of-pocket maximum The annual cap on what you'll pay out of pocket for covered services.
- PPO A health plan allowing out-of-network care at higher cost — more flexible than an HMO but still rarely covers international elective care.
- Pre-authorization Insurance approval required before certain procedures or treatments.
Oncology
- BRCA1/BRCA2 Inherited gene mutations that increase risk of breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.
- CyberKnife Robotically-guided radiation therapy delivering precise high-dose radiation to tumours while sparing surrounding tissue.
- EGFR mutation A genetic mutation in some cancers (especially lung) that drives targeted therapy choice.
- HER2 A protein that's overexpressed in some breast and gastric cancers, drives targeted therapy choice.
- IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) A radiation therapy technique using shaped beams to spare nearby healthy tissue.
- PD-L1 A protein on cancer cells that helps them evade the immune system; a key marker for immunotherapy.
- Proton therapy Radiation using proton particles instead of photons — better dose conformity for pediatric and certain adult tumours.
- Radiotherapy Cancer treatment using high-energy radiation to kill tumour cells.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) High-precision radiation delivered in a single or few sessions for small lesions.
- Tumor board A multidisciplinary meeting where oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists review a cancer case together.
- VMAT (Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy) An advanced form of IMRT delivered in a continuous arc.
Recovery
- Discharge summary A document summarizing the hospital admission, treatment given, and follow-up plan.
- DVT prophylaxis Measures to prevent deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in leg veins) after surgery.
- Follow-up Scheduled visits and tests to monitor recovery after a procedure.
- Occupational therapy (OT) Rehabilitation focused on regaining ability to perform daily activities and tasks.
- Physical therapy (PT) Rehabilitation focused on regaining strength, mobility, and function after surgery or injury.
- Prehabilitation (Prehab) Pre-operative training to optimize fitness, nutrition, and function before surgery.
- Rehabilitation The structured process of restoring function after illness, injury, or surgery.
- Scar care Post-operative protocols to minimize scar appearance and complications.
Regulatory
- CE Mark A certification indicating European Economic Area regulatory conformity.
- FDA-approved A drug or device authorized for medical use by the US Food and Drug Administration.
- Informed consent The process of explaining a procedure's risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreement.
- ISO 9001 An international quality management system standard.
- JCI (Joint Commission International) A US-based organization accrediting hospitals and healthcare programs internationally.
- MDR (Medical Device Regulation) The EU regulation governing medical devices, replacing the older MDD.
- NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) India's national hospital accreditation standard.
Specialties
- Cardiology Discipline dealing with heart and vascular disease — diagnostic and interventional, plus cardiac surgery.
- Fertility / IVF The medical specialty focused on reproductive health and assisted conception.
- Neurosurgery The surgical specialty treating disorders of the brain, spine, and nervous system.
- Oncology Medical discipline devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of cancer.
- Orthopedics Musculoskeletal surgery and care — joints, spine, trauma, sports injuries.
- Transplant medicine The specialty managing organ transplantation and post-transplant care.
Evidence
- Evidence-based medicine (EBM) Medical practice that integrates research evidence with clinical experience and patient values.
- Number Needed to Treat (NNT) The number of patients who need a treatment for one to benefit.
- QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year) A measure of disease burden combining quantity and quality of life.
- RCT (Randomized Controlled Trial) A research study where participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups.
- Shared decision-making A collaborative process where patient and clinician decide together based on evidence and preferences.
Fertility
- AFC (Antral Follicle Count) An ultrasound count of small follicles in the ovaries; measures ovarian reserve.
- AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) A blood test measuring ovarian reserve; predicts response to fertility stimulation.
- ICSI Intracytoplasmic sperm injection — a single sperm is injected directly into an egg, used when sperm quality or count is low.
- IVF In vitro fertilization — eggs retrieved from ovaries are fertilized with sperm in a lab, then transferred to the uterus.
- PGT Preimplantation genetic testing — screening embryos for chromosomal or specific genetic abnormalities before transfer.
Payment
- Installment plan A payment arrangement allowing the cost of treatment to be paid over time.
- Payment method How medical travel payments can be made: wire, card, escrow, or installment.
- Pre-signed deposit A booking deposit held against a treatment quote, often refundable on cancellation.
- Refund policy The terms under which a deposit or payment can be refunded.
Urology
- Active surveillance Monitoring low-risk cancer (typically prostate) instead of immediate treatment.
- Gleason score A grading system for prostate cancer aggressiveness on biopsy.
- PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) A blood test marker for prostate disease; elevated levels can indicate cancer or benign causes.
- Trifecta (post-prostatectomy) The three goals after prostate cancer surgery: cancer control, continence, and potency.
Visa
- Attendant visa A visa for a family member or caregiver accompanying a medical traveler.
- eVisa An electronically issued visa, applied for and received online.
- Medical visa A visa specifically for medical treatment in a foreign country.
- Visa extension Extending the duration of stay on an existing visa.
Neurology
Transplant
- BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant) Replacing damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy hematopoietic stem cells — used for leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia.
- Kidney transplant Transplanting a functional kidney from a living or deceased donor to replace failing kidneys.
- Organ transplant Surgically replacing a failing organ with a donor organ — kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas.
Accreditation
Coordination
Orthopedics
Clinical
Travel
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