K-wire
(Kirschner): (Ortho) skeletal
transfixion of bones.
Kadian: (Rx)
morphine sulfate sustained release; to treat pain.
KAFO: knee-ankle-foot orthosis.
Kager
triangle: in Achilles tendon region.
Kahler
laryngeal forceps: (Instrument)
Kahn-Graves
speculum: (Instrument)
Kaiser
Kajava
classification: of supernumerary
nipples and breasts.
kalaazar: an infectious disease (Hindi for “black fever”),
visceral leishmaniasis.
kalemia: (Hem)
potassium in the blood.
Kaletra: (Rx) generic = lopinavir/ ritonavir; medication for
HIV and AIDS patients (2000).
kaliuresis: (Uro) excretion of potassium in the urine.
Kalt needle
holder:
Kanavel
cannula: (Instrument) brain.
Kane umbilical clamp:
kangaroo
care: (Neonatal/Peds) for premature infants, allowed
to lie close to mother, or on her chest; seem to result in fewer breathing
problems and faster weight gain, as opposed to keeping baby in an Isolette for long periods (name refers to kangaroos keeping
their young in their pouch, close to them).
Kantor
circumcision clamp:
Kao Lectrolyte: (OTC)
to replenish electrolytes, treat dehydration due to
vomiting and diarrhea in children.
Kapel
procedure: elbow
Kaposi
sarcoma, disseminated: unique to
HIV.
Kapp-Beck
colon clamp:
kappa light chain: (Hem/Onc) may also hear
similar: lambda light chain, free/bound light chain.
Kapseals: drug delivery form, used for Dilantin, Benadryl, etc.
karate chop phaco technique: (Ophth)
technique for cataract removal
Karaya electrodes, seal:
Kardex system: name of a storage system.
Kariva: (Rx)
desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol; birth control pills
Karl Storz
ureteropyeloscope: (Equip)
Karnofsky Scale : tumor grading, performance status (10-100).
Karolinska
Institute of
Karvonan method:
to calculate heart rate reserve.
Karydakis operation: technique of removing pilonidal cysts.
Kaslow
irrigation tube:
Katena scleral shield: (Source:
Stedman’s Updates 2001).
Katie Beckett Program:
Medicaid program for children with long-term disabilities who live at home with
family.
Katz
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score:
Katzin
corneal scissors:
Katzin-Barraquer
forceps:
Kaufman
prosthesis:
(Urology)
kava: herbal supplement with
various claims of health benefits, currently also found to be a risk for liver
injury; sometimes called kava kava.
Kay Ciel: trademark for preparations of potassium chloride; not
used often, normally use the abbreviation, KCl
when dictated unless specifically requested to type the trade name.
Kayser-Fleischer
ring:
(Ophth) in
Kay-Shiley
mitral valve:
Kazanjian-Cottle
forceps:
kCi: abbreviation for
kilocurie
KCl: abbreviation
for potassium chloride; note the trade name is Kay Ciel; since it sounds exactly the same when dictated, it is
preferred to use the abbreviation rather than the trade name, unless
specifically requested to use the trade name (so most of the time, you will be
typing “KCl”).
Kearns-Sayre
syndrome:
(Ophth) form of chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia
with associated cardiac conduction defects, short stature, and hearing loss; a
sporadically occurring mitochondrial myopathy presenting in childhood.
Keats’ normals x-ray book: reference book
by Andrew Keats, full title is “Atlas of Normal
Roentgen Variants”.
Keeler
pantoscope/ophthalmoscope:
Kees aneurysm test: (Neuro)
Kegel exercises: (Uro) to strengthen the pubococcygeal
periurethral muscle fibers.
Kehr
incision: abdominal incision
Kehr sign: (Int Med) violent pain in left shoulder, seen in ruptured
spleen.
Kehrer
reflex: (Neuro)
Keith
needle:
(ENT)
Keith node: (Cardio) bundle of fibers
in right atrial wall of heart.
Keith-Wagener
retinopathy: classification of hypertensive retinopathy,
roman numerals I through IV.
Keith-Wagener-Barker stages (1-4): classification of hypertension based on retinal
changes.
Kelikian
procedure: tendon transfer, aka, modified Z osteotomy.
Keller
osteotomy: (Podiatry)
Keller-Blake
splint:
Kelling
gastroscope:
Kelly
adenotome:
Kelly
clamp: (Instrument) curved hemostat without teeth, mainly
for GYN procedures.
Kelly-Gray
uterine forceps:
Kelly-Murphy
forceps:
Kelly-Sims
vaginal retractor:
Kelman
forceps:
Kelman
intraocular lenses:
Kelman
keratome:
Kelo-cote gel: (OTC) topical gel to improve appearance of scars.
Kelvin 500
cardiac pacemaker:
kelvin: unit of temperature measurement (thermodynamic). abbreviated : K
Kempner rice diet: (Cardio) diet of rice, fruit,
and sugar, plus vitamin and iron supplements, devised by Kempner to treat
hypertension. In
2,000
calories, the diet contains 5 gm or less of fat, about 20 gm of protein, and
not more than 150 mg of sodium. AKA: Kempner diet
Ken nail: (Instrument) used in hip fracture
repairs.
Kennedy ligament augmentation device (LAD): of polypropylene braid.
Kennedy
vulsellum forceps:
Kennedy
classification: (Dental) evaluation of partially edentulous jaws.
Kensey
catheter: crushes and pulverizes
atheromas.
Kepivance: (Rx) generic = palifermin;
helps treat mouth sores (mucositis) caused by radiation therapy.
Keppra: (Rx) generic
= levetiracetam;
antiepileptic drug (2000)
keratin 7, keratin 20:
(Onc/Lab)
cancer pathology terminology.
keratoconjunctivitis sicca: (Ophth) dryness and inflammation of the
conjunctiva, part of Sjogren syndrome.
keratoconjunctivitis, flash: caused by exposure to welding or other ultraviolet
rays.
keratoconjunctivitis,
phlyctenular: caused by
malnutrition, tuberculosis, and Staphylococcus.
keratoconus: (Ophth) protrusion of center of cornea.
keratoderma
blennorrhagicum: (Stedman’s
dictionary), called also keratosis blennorrhagica; pustules and crusting.
keratomileusis:
(Ophth) surgery, keratoplasty, alteration of refractive error by changing shape
of cornea.
keratoplasty: (Ophth) penetrating (replacement of full thickness
of the cornea) and lamellar (replacement of superficial
layers of the cornea).
keratouveitis: (Ophth)
inflammation of the cornea and uvea.
KeraVision Intacs intracorneal ring: (Ophth/Device) implant to correct myopia.
Kerley A, B, C septal lines : on chest x-ray (see Dorland’s dictionary
under “lines” for detailed definition), may be dictated as “Kerley B lines”.
Kerlix
dressing:
Kerlix
gauze:
Kernan-Jackson
bronchoscope:
Kernberg theory: (Psych) of borderline personalities
Kernig sign: (Neuro) for
meningitis; stiffness
of hamstrings causes inability to straighten leg on hip flexion.
Kernohan
notch:
(Neuro) notch in cerebral peduncle due to brainstem displacement
.
Kerr
rongeur, clips: (Instruments)
“kerr”
sign: No—see Kehr sign above.
Kerrison laminectomy
rongeur:
Kessler,
manner of:
Kessler
prosthesis: upper limb
Kestenbaum
procedure:
(Ophth) optic neuritis.
Ketek: (Rx) generic = telithromycin; antibiotic from family of ketolides
(2000).
ketogenopurine diet:
KeV: measurement of principal emission in technetium and
thallium-201.
Kevlar: material in sports protectors.
Kevorkian-Young
forceps:
(GYN)
Kevorkian, Jack, MD: physician who believes and has performed
euthanasia on humans (currently in prison,
2001).
Key
arthrodesis: knee
Key
periosteal elevator:
Keyes
lithotrite:
keyhole laminectomy:
Khodadad
clamp:
(Neuro)
Kickaldy and Willis arthrodesis: hip
Kidner
procedure:
foot
kidney stones:
types- clacium oxalate, uric acid, cystine.
“kid’s crud”: (Peds) slang meaning impetigo.
Kiehn-Earle-DesPrez
procedure: (Derm) for plantar ulcer.
Kienbock
disease:
(Ortho) osteolysis following wrist
trauma.
Kiesselbach area, plexus: (ENT) common site of nosebleeds; network of vessels
in the anterior septum.
Kifa
catheter:
(Radiology)
Killian
incision:
(ENT) sinus
Killian-King
goiter retractor:
Killian Red
beer: brand name alcoholic beverage.
Killip
class score: (Cardio)
classification of heart failure, grades 1-4.
Kilner
needle holder:
Kilner
scissors:
Kilner-Dott
mouth gag:
Kilner-Doughty
plate:
(ENT)
kilodalton: a unit of
mass, abbreviated kD or kDa.
kilopond: measurement of force equal to the gravitational
force applied to one kilogram of mass at the earth’s
surface.
Kimball
nephrostomy hook:
Kimny catheter: (Cardio) for angiography (AAMT 2001).
Kim-Ray
Greenfield filter: used to prevent pulmonary emboli (Note – This was found in Vera Pyle’s
late Medical Terminology book as the corrected spelling; some older books will
list it erroneously as “kimray”).
Kinair
air-fluidized bed:
KinCom isokinetic strengthening:
Kinerase
cream: OTC skin cream to decrease signs of aging.
Kineret: (Rx) anakinra, self injection for rheumatoid
arthritis treatment, see http://www.kineretrx.com/
(FDA).
kinesiology: the study
of movement of the human body.
kinesthetic skills: (Behavior Class)
Kinetec ECT: extended cold therapy for
postoperative muscle aches/strains.
kinetic chain
tests, exercises: (Podiatry) also
open kinetic chain tests, closed kinetic chain tests.
King
procedure: hip fusion.
King of
Hearts event recorder: (Cardio) monitor worn to diagnose heart problems;
aka, King of Hearts Express, Express AF.
King-Hurd
dissector:
kinin synthesis: (Lab)
kininogen: (Lab) clotting protein,
also called high molecular weight kininogen or Fitzgerald factor.
kinnikinnick: A tobacco made from dried leaves and bark.
Kinny-Howard splint:
Kinsella-Buie clamp:
Kirby
cataract knife:
Kirby
skive: (Pod) podiatry terminology, when discussing orthotic
devices.
Kirkpatrick tonsil forceps:
Kirmisson raspatory:
Kirwin cystoscope:
kissing balloon technique: (Cardiology)
kissing spine syndrome:
kissing tonsils: swollen bilaterally to the point of touching or
nearly touching each other.
Kistner
probe:
Kistner
tracheostomy tube:
Kite cast:
Kittner dissector:
Kitsror trach button:
Klagsbrun
technique:
(Ortho) to harvest chondrocytes for new cartilage formation.
Klaron: (Rx) sodium sulfacetamide lotion for acne in
patients with sensitive skin.
Klatskin
tumor: type of cholangiocarcinoma.
Klebanoff
bougie:
Klebsiella
oxytoca: newer name for Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Klebsiella
pneumoniae: component of normal flora in oropharynx, GI
tract in healthy patients, but in unhealthy patients can cause a fatal sepsis.
Klebsiella
pneumoniae ozaenae:
Klebsiella
pneumonia rhinoscleromatis:
Kleenspec sigmoidoscope:
Kleiger
closure:
Kleinert
volar VY plasty: (Surgery)
Klemm
locked intramedullary nail:
Klemme retractor: (Neuro)
Klenzak
brace, splint, orthosis:
Kling wrap,
bandage: (NOT “cling”).
Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome: or
just KT syndrome; affects circulatory system as well
as soft tissue and bony abnormalities, one limb shorter than the other, etc.
Klor-Con: potassium supplement brand.
Klute clamp:
Knight
scissors:
Knight-Taylor
thoracolumbosacral orthosis:
knismogenic: producing
a tickling sensation.
knob, aortic:
knob, olfactory:
knock, pericardial:
Knodt rod
fusion of spine: (Ortho) pronounced as “not rod”.
Knolle cannula/ cystitome/ polisher (Ophth):
Knolle lens: (Ophth)
Knowles
pin:
(Orthopedics)
Knox Nutrajoint: OTC gelatin nutritional supplement (manufacturer’s website
- Nabisco).
knuckle of choroids:
knurled CD (Cotrel/Dubousset) rod: to correct scoliosis.
koala bear:
Koala vascular
clamp: (brand name, capitalize).
Kobak
needle:
Koby
cataract: ?
Kocher
clamp: (Instrument)
Kocher
fracture: (Ortho) of capitellum
Kock pouch:
internal pouch of small bowel that the patient catheterizes, Kock ileostomy.
Kocuria kristinae: bacteria
species.
Kocuria rhizophila
Kocuria rosea
Koebner phenomenon: (Derm) also
called “koebnerization; psoriasis at site of injury.
Koenig
operation: (Podiatry)
Koeppe
lens:
(Ophth)
Koeppe
nodules:
Koffler
forceps:
Kogan endospeculum:
Kogenate FS: antihemophilic factor VIII.
KOH: (Lab) potassium hydroxide, skin scraping for
fungus.
Kohler Art
Library: (Geo) UW-Madison campus, inside
koilocyte: a concave
or hollow cell
koilocytotic: hollow.
koilocytotic atypia, dysplasia:
koilonychia: (Derm) thin or concave fingernails, edges raised,
also called “spoon nails”.
Kommerell
diverticulum:
König
disease, syndrome: (Ortho) osteochondritis dissecans of knee;
aka, Koenig disease.
Kool-Aid: brand name drink mix.
Kopans breast
lesion localization needle:
developed by Dr Daniel Kopans; no apostrophe, keep
the “s”.
Kopetzky bur:
KORT grass
mix: (Allergy) allergy test.
Kortelopet: (pronounced “cor-deh-low-pay”)
name of a cross country ski race taking place in
shorter version (23K) of
the Birkebeiner (pronounced “burka-bine-er”), which
is 51K.
Kortzeborn
procedure: hand
Kowa
camera:
(Ophth)
kPa: kilopascal, a blood gas measurement unit.
Kraff nucleus splitter: (Ophth) forceps used in cataract surgery (Source:
Pyle 8th Ed. 2002).
Krames handouts:
patient information booklet brand.
Kraske
position: jackknife position for
rectal/coccygeal procedures.
Krasky retractor:
Krasnov
implant cataract lens:
Kratz
scratcher:
(Ophth)
kraurosis vulvae: (GYN) progressive atrophy
of vulvae in postmenopausal women.
Krause
biopsy forceps:
Krego elevator:
Kreiselman
resuscitator unit: for newborns
Kremer excimer laser: currently used in LASIK procedures for
nearsightedness (2001).
Kreuscher
bunionectomy:
Krimsky
measurement: (Ophth) of exotropia.
Kringles:
fibrin-binding sites
Kriser (David B.)
Kristalose: lactulose oral solution to treat constipation (HPI
2001).
Kristellar vaginal speculum:
Krohn Clinic:
Kronendonk
pins:
Kroner
apparatus:
Kronner
skeletal fixation:
Kropp
procedure: bladder neck
reconstruction.
Krukenberg
procedure:
(Ortho)
Krukenberg
spindle:
(Ophth) corneal opacity, vertical and brownish-red color.
Krukenberg
tumor:
carcinoma of the ovary
Krull knife:
Krumeich-Barraquer microkeratome: (Ophth) approved by FDA, 1998.
Krupin-Denver
eye valve: for glaucoma.
Krupin valve with disc: for
uncontrolled glaucoma.
Kruskal-Wallis
test: for acoustic neuroma.
Krwawicz
cataract extractor:
Kryostik:
krypton, inhalation of:
in positron scanning,
technique to measure cerebral blood flow (Pyle, 8th Ed, 2002).
krypton laser:
KSHV: Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.
K-sponge: used in eye and microvascular surgeries.
KT-1000 machine: (Ortho)
KTP/Nd:YAG
laser: KTP stands for
potassium-titanyl-phosphate, used for BPH and laparoscopic laser
cholecystectomy (2002).
K-Tube: (GI) trade name of jejunostomy tube for parenteral
nutrition.
KUB: kidneys, ureters, bladder.
Kugel hernia patch: polypropylene mesh, inguinal hernia repair (2001).
Kugelberg-Welander
disease: juvenile hereditary motor neuron disease.
Kugelberg-Wohlfart, or
Wohlfart-Kugelberg-Welander syndrome:
juvenile muscle atrophy.
Kuglen
hook:
(Ophth)
Kuhn-Bolger angled curette:
used
in frontal nasal surgery (Pyle, 8th Ed, 2002).
Kuhnt-Szmanowski operation: (Ophth)
Kulvin-Kalt
iris forceps:
Kumar
applicator:
Kumon Method: (Education) reading and math program (www.kumon.com)
Kurten vein
stripper:
Kurtzke
scale: for functional status in
multiple sclerosis.
Kustner
suture:
Kutrase capsules: (Rx) to relieve nervous indigestion, or “butterflies”.
Kuttner dissector:
Kutzmann clamp:
Kveim or Kveim-Siltzbach skin test: test for sarcoidosis, intradermal injection.
kwashiorkor:
protein-calorie malnutrition.
Kytril tablets: (Rx) generic = granisetron; to prevent/treat chemotherapy and
radiation therapy emesis, 1-2 mg (2002).