ESL Podcast 379 - A Routine Procedure

surgery - medical operation that involves the taking out or replacement of a body part

Zunny fell off her bike and hit her head. Now she must have brain surgery.

routine procedure - a normal or common surgery; an operation that is often done and not considered highly dangerous

Even though it was a routine procedure, Ekaterina was still afraid to have a tooth pulled.

to be admitted overnight - to stay in the hospital overnight for observation; to sleep one night in a hospital so that doctors and nurses can watch the patient

I can't imagine sleeping in a hospital. I hope they don't want to admit me overnight!

general anesthesia - loss of feeling in the whole body due to a drug given by the doctor; a drug used during a surgery so that the patient is not awake and does not feel pain

During a major operation like heart surgery, the doctor will use general anesthesia.

local anesthesia - loss of feeling in only the small part of the body on which the surgery is being performed due to a drug given by the doctor; a drug used on patients on the part of the body where the doctor will operate

Will they just use local anesthesia on your throat when you have your tonsils removed?

out-patient procedure - surgery in which the patient can leave the same day; not being admitted overnight

I must go to the hospital this afternoon, but it's an out-patient procedure so you can visit me at home later.

to keep under observation - to keep a person at the hospital so the doctors can watch or monitor their health

He was still very sick, even after they gave him medicine, so the doctors decided to keep him under observation for a few more days.

all the same - even so; still; nevertheless

I like Luis, but all the same, I wish he wasn't dating my little sister.

complications - problems; things that can go wrong

There were so many complications with the birth that the doctors are surprised that the baby survived.

low-risk - not dangerous; little chance of being hurt; relatively safe

This business plan is very low risk and we will almost certainly double our money.

post-op - after the operation; after the surgery has been completed

Please read the piece of paper the doctor gave you about post-op care so that you will heal from your surgery quickly.

to release - to let go; to set free; to allow someone to leave

When will they release your father from the hospital?

to free up beds - to send home current patients to make space for new patients

To free up beds, the nurses sent home all of the patients who no longer needed care.

impaired - hurt; ruined; not at its best; harmed; made worse

My eyesight was impaired for a week after Ken hit me in the face.

judgment - the ability to make decisions; common sense; opinion

I've known Laura a long time and I think she has poor judgment when it comes to men.

discharged - set free; released; allowed to leave

I didn't know that Carrie had been discharged from the hospital until I saw her at the grocery store yesterday.

I told you so - phrase used to say, "I told you this would happen"; a phrase to show that one was right about what one said would happen

I told my father to watch for thieves on the bus, and when his wallet was stolen, I could only say, "I told you so."