The Nurse/Midwife's Handbook - A Dictionary

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G6PD Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase
          Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is a genetic disorder leading to breakdown of red blood cells prematurely. Appears with dark urine, yellowish skin, and requires oxygen therapy, and blood transfusion.

Gastrectomy
Removal of part or all of the stomach. Subtotal gastrectomy = partial gastrectomy. Can be removal of cancerous portions of the stomach.

Gastrografin Gastrointestinal solution
Gastrografin is a contrast medium (a dye) which contains iodine. Used in MRA's. It also acts as a laxative & may cause diarrhoea. Sometimes used to treat meconium ileus, a specific type of bowel blockage.

Gastrojejunostomy
A procedure connecting part of the stomach to the jejunum, allowing stomach contents to pass directly from the stomach to the jejunum without passing through the first part of the small intestine (duodenum).

Gastroparesis
          A condition affecting seductive stomach emptying, ∴ affecting digestion. May be caused by damage to a nerve that controls stomach muscles. Diabetes Mellitis (DM) is the most common cause, as DM can damage nerves incl. nerves and pacemaker cells in the stomach wall.

GBM - glioblastoma multiforme
fast growing glioma that develops from star-shaped glial cells (astrocytes & oligodendrocytes) that support the health of the nerve cells within the brain. Often referred to as a grade IV astrocytoma. (see biomed book to revisit nervous system biology & physiology)

GBS - Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Autoimmune disease wherein the body's immune system begins to attack the PNS (peripheral nervous system). Antibodies & lymphocytes attack & damage the Peripheral nerves, causing weakness/paralysis (motor neurone affected) &/or abnormal sensations & pain (sensory nerves affected)

GelPort
          GelPort laparoscopic system. A surgical technique in theatre.

GERD - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gestational Thrombocytopenia
(Incidental) Thrombocytopenia is a diagnosis of eclusion. Defined as a blood platelet count of <150 000/μg.
A normal range is 150 000-400 000/μg. Very similar to immune thrombocytopenia. So basically, it is a drop in platelet count during pregnancy.

Gliclazide
Antidiabetic for T2DM

Glioma
Type of tumor that occurs in the brain & spinal cord. Gliomas begin in the glial cells (gluey supportive cells) that surround nerve cells & help them function. 3 types of glial cells can produce tumours: Astrocytomas, Ependymomas, Oligodendrgliomas.

GORD - Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease
          Reflux. Acid comes up oesophagus

Grommet Surgery
Grommets are inserted during a minor surgical procedure known as myringotomy. A small cut is made in the eardrum to relieve pressure caused by a build up of fluid of pus in the middle ear, to take a sample of fluid for diagnosis, or to insert ear tubes (grommets). Grommets usualy treat 'glue ear' (fluid in the mid ear) or to prevent recurrent otitis media (mid ear infection). The grommet is a small ventilation tube inserted into eardrum to allow air into middle ear & prevent fluid build up.