2008-06-06
ESL Podcast 379
A Routine Procedure
Julia: Aren’t you nervous about your surgery next week?
Hugh: No, it’s a routine procedure. I don’t even need to be admitted overnight.
Julia: But aren’t you going under general anesthesia? It’s not the same as local anesthesia, you know.
Hugh: Yes, I know. This is an outpatient procedure. If the doctors don’t think I can go home the same
day, they’ll just keep me under observation.
Julia: All the same, there may be complications.
Hugh: It’s supposed to be a low-risk procedure. If there are post-op problems, I’m sure the doctors will
take good care of me.
Julia: But what if they release you too early from the hospital. I’ve heard that these days doctors are
under pressure to free up beds as soon as possible.
Hugh: It’s true that I may be impaired after the procedure, but my daughter will be there and I trust her
judgment. I’m sure she’ll make sure I’m fine to go home before I’m discharged.
Julia: But what if...?
Hugh: Don’t worry. Nothing bad is going to happen. If it does, you can say, “I told you so.”
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
© Center for Educational Development, Inc. 2005-2018
Vocabulary Notes
surgery [BrEˈsɜːdʒəri; NAmEˈsɜːrdʒəri] n [uncountable] medical treatment of injuries or diseases that
involves cutting open a person’s body and often removing or replacing some parts; the branch of
medicine connected with this treatment, e.g. major/minor surgery, to undergo heart surgery; He will
require surgery on his left knee; In American English the countable form can be used: She had three
surgeries over ten days; мед. хирургическая операция
a routine procedure [BrE ruːˈtiːn prəˈsiːdʒə(r); NAmE ruːˈtiːn prəˈsiːdʒər] phr When a doctor says that
something is a "routine procedure", it means that he or she often does it, and it's nothing new or scary.
The word "routine" means "usual". When you're talking to a doctor, a "procedure" usually means a
surgical procedure. Or, in other words, some kind of surgery. In general, a "procedure" is a set of actions
that follow specific steps.; мед. обычная (плановая, стандартная) операция (процедура)
to be admitted overnight phr рус. быть принятым быстро (сразу); зд. ≈ не придётся ночевать (оставаться на ночь, провести ночь) в больнице
general anaesthesia (NAmE anesthesia) [BrE ˈdʒenrəl ˌænəsˈθiːziə; NAmE ˈdʒenrəlˌænəsˈθiːʒə]
[uncountable] a state of unconsciousness and immobility, brought about by drugs, so as to allow surgical
operations or other physical procedures to be performed without pain or awareness; e.g. On October
16, 1846 at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Thomas Morton gave the first successful public
demonstration of general anaesthesia. History remembers Thomas Morton as the “discoverer of
anaesthesia” and October 16, 1846 as the date of the birth of anaesthesia. [Regrettably, this is not true.
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The real honour of discovery belongs to Crawford W. Long, a quiet country doctor, who, on March 30,
1842 gave the first successful ether anaesthetic in Jefferson, Georgia. Unfortunately for him, Long did
not publish his results until 1849 and history barely records his efforts. He does however have a statue in
Washington’s Capitol building as one of Georgia’s two most famous people.]; мед. наркоз, общая
анестезия.; ether anesthesia [BrE ˈiːθə(r) ˌænəsˈθiːziə; NAmE ˈiːθər ˌænəsˈθiːʒə] e.g. Laparotomy was
carried out under ether anesthesia.; мед. эфирный наркоз
local anaesthesia, NAmE anesthesia [BrE ˈləʊkl ˌænəsˈθiːziə; NAmE ˈloʊkll ˌænəsˈθiːʒə] [uncountable]
local or regional anesthesia involves the injection or application of an anesthetic drug to a specific area
of the body, as opposed to the entire body and brain as occurs during general anesthesia.; e.g. When
blood tests are taken, we use local anesthesia, sprayed on the skin.; мед. местная анестезия, местное
обезболивание
outpatient [ˈaʊtpeɪʃnt] n a person who goes to a hospital for treatment but does not stay there; e.g.
That said, there are opportunities to reduce outpatient waiting times.; мед. рус. амбулаторный
больной. Cf. inpatient [BrE ˈɪnpeɪʃnt; NAmE ˈɪnpeɪʃnt] n a person who stays in a hospital while receiving
treatment; e.g. Hospitalist physicians available to take care of inpatients. Many are sited in hospital
grounds near the inpatient unit. His insurance company is unwilling to pay for inpatient treatment.; мед.
рус. стационарный больной [пациент] (пациент, проходящий лечение в стационаре
медицинского учреждения); разг. лежачий больной; юр. госпитализированный пациент
to keep sb under observation [BrE ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃn; NAmE ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃn] phr being watched carefully by
doctors; e.g. The doctor ordered that the patient be kept under observation.; мед. положить кого-л. в
больницу для на обследование
all the same adv in spite of a preceding event or consideration, despite anything to the contrary (usually
following a concession); рус. всё-таки, вcё жe; нecмoтpя нa этo, тeм нe мeнee; всё равно
a complication [BrE ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃn; NAmE ˌkɑːmplɪˈkeɪʃn] n [countable, usually plural] (medical) a new
problem or illness that makes treatment of a previous one more complicated or difficult; e.g. She
developed complications after the surgery. Infertility is one of the complications of this type of
radiotherapy. He has influenza with complications — У него грипп (устар. инфлуэ́нца, инфлюэ́нца) с
осложнениями.; мед. осложнение (после болезни, операции)
low-risk [BrE ˌləʊ ˈrɪsk; NAmE ˌloʊ ˈrɪsk] adj [usually before noun] involving only a small amount of
danger and little risk of injury, death, damage, etc.; рус. с малым риском; незначительный риск;
низкая степень риска
post-op, also post·op [BrE ˌpəʊst ˈɒp; NAmE ˌpoʊst ˈɑːp] adj (medical) (informal) a short form of
postoperative, e.g. post-op care, post-op complications; A section of a hospital providing postoperative
treatment. Although this varies a great deal from patient to patient, all post-operative patients are likely
to have some degree of anxiety and/or pain. мед. послеоперационный
to release (from the hospital) [BrE rɪˈliːs; NAmE rɪˈliːs], NAmE to discharge (from hospital) [BrE
dɪsˈtʃɑːdʒ; NAmE dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ] v [transitive, usually passive] (formal) to release or allow to go, e.g. He is
expected to be released from hospital today. The hospital discharged the patient. Patients were being
discharged from the hospital too early. She had discharged herself against medical advice. Figurative:
The surgery released him from years of pain. мед. выписывать(ся) из больницы; избавлять (освобождать) от боли
to free up beds phr e.g. Decreasing hospital length of stay, and so freeing up hospital beds, represents
an important cost saving which is often used in economic evaluations.; мед. освобождать места (койки, медицинские кушетки) для пациентов
impaired [BrE ɪmˈpeəd; NAmE ɪmˈperd] adj 1. damaged or not functioning normally, e.g. impaired vision
– ослабленное зрение; мед. нарушенный (напр. о функции органа), сниженный; эвф.; политкор.
замедленный, ослабленный, ограниченно дееспособный; 2. -impaired having the type of physical or
mental problem mentioned, e.g. hearing-impaired – с нарушениями слуха, visually-impaired
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employees – работники с нарушениями зрения; 3. CanE (informal) разг. находящийся в состоянии
алкогольного опьянения, пьяный
judgement, NAmE judgment [BrE ˈdʒʌdʒmənt; NAmE ˈdʒʌdʒmənt] n [countable, uncountable] (of/
about/on something) an opinion that you form about something after thinking about it carefully; the act
of making this opinion known to others; e.g. He refused to make a judgement about the situation. Who
am I to pass judgement on her behaviour? (= to criticize it); рус. суждение, мнение; взгляд; оценка
(I) told you (so)! expr (informal) used when something bad has happened, to remind somebody that
you warned them about it and they did not listen to you; рус. А я тебе что говорил?! Я ведь тебя
предупреждал! Что я тебе говорил!
Vocabulary notes compiled by Vladimir Kandaurov
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Comprehension Questions
1. Why isn’t Hugh nervous about his surgery?
a) He is good friends with the doctor.
b) It is a routine procedure.
c) It is an expensive surgery.
2. What does it mean to be “admitted overnight”?
a) To sleep in the hospital.
b) To have doctors visit you in your home.
c) To tell someone where you slept the previous night.
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Culture Note
While surgery is never good news, understanding the different types of surgery may take the “mystery”
(unknown) out what the doctor plans to do. You certainly don’t have to be a doctor to understand the
differences between elective, emergency, exploratory, reconstructive, and transplant surgeries.
An elective surgery is a surgery a person has made the decision to have. It is a “medical procedure”
(another word for surgery) done to correct or fix a medical problem that is not “life-threatening” (very
serious). Why would anyone choose to “undergo” (go through; have) surgery? There are many reasons,
but perhaps the most common is to “enhance” (make better; improve) a person’s “physical appearance”
(the way a person looks). This type of elective surgery is called “cosmetic” (beauty; surface) surgery.
Surgeries that are not elective are called emergency surgeries. The word “emergency” refers to
something that needs to be fix immediately, so an emergency surgery is a surgery that must be
performed right away or the person risks their health and even death. An example of an emergency
surgery is a “heart bypass” (surgery to help blood get to the heart) after a “heart attack” (when blood
can’t get to the heart).
The words “emergency” and “elective” refer to the “circumstance” (situation, including time and place)
under which a surgery will happen, but there are also words that refer to the actual medical procedure.
“Reconstructive surgery” is similar to cosmetic surgery in that it changes a person’s physical appearance;
however reconstructive surgery is not done “solely” (only) for cosmetic reasons. If a child has been
burned, his or her parents may decide that the child should undergo reconstructive surgery to
“minimize” (make less noticeable) the appearance of burns. Another type of surgery is a transplant. A
“transplant” is a surgery in which a doctor removes a body part or internal organ that no longer
“functions” (works) and replaces it with a working part. Many organs, including kidneys, hearts, and
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even eyes, can be transplanted. A third type, “exploratory surgery,” is a procedure in which doctors use
tools, sometimes including cameras, to look inside a person’s body and “make a diagnosis” (discover the
cause of a medical problem).
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – a
© Center for Educational Development, Inc. 2005-2018
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Reading Comprehension
Surgery Safaris: Looking for the Perfect Body
From VOA Learning English, this is Health Report episode [November 18, 2014]
You may hear or download this story on VOA’s Learning English Web.
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.
How far would you go for a perfect body?
Many people these days are going as far as South Africa to get their version of perfection. People from
across Africa and the world come for so-called “surgery safaris.” There are no animals to see on these
safaris. The visitors instead look for smaller stomachs, firmer bottoms or perhaps new eye, nose or chin
shapes.
Businesses that provide medical safaris say they have seen a large increase in African customers. VOA’s
Gillian Parker spoke with several cosmetic surgeons in Johannesburg for her report.
South Africa is becoming the leading country in Africa for people seeking cosmetic surgery.
For years, South Africa has appealed to medical tourists from Europe and the United States. But local
cosmetic surgeons say now more clients from Africa’s growing economies are interested in such
operations.
Lorraine Melvill is a doctor with Surgeon and Safari. She has been performing cosmetic surgeries for
nearly 16 years in Johannesburg. She says that more than 80 percent of her clients now come from subSaharan Africa. She says this is because Africa did not experience the economic problems that hit other
parts of the world.
“When the West started having its economic downturn, it was almost a symbiotic change and the scales
just tilted. And we know Africa wasn't as affected by the economic downturn. There is also a huge
emerging African middle class that has come to the fore. But for us, the growing market is the subSaharan African market. Africa is where we are looking to the future.”
Her clients are treated like movie stars. Assistants take them from the airport to a luxurious guesthouse.
They explain in detail the medical operation to be done. Doctors operate the next day. And then clients
have a week or two to enjoy a shopping safari for new clothes and handbags while their bodies heal.
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Clients can spend anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 on a cosmetic treatment. They might spend an
additional $2,000 on the cost of the hotel while they heal.
For many African women, less is more. Ms. Melvill says the most popular forms of cosmetic surgeries for
African women are breast reductions and liposuction. Liposuction removes fat from the body. So-called
tummy tucks are also common. This treatment removes fat from a person’s middle.
“A lot of Africans have a huge need for breast reduction. And also in terms of the African market, I
would certainly say breast reductions, liposuctions and tummy tucks would be their main.”
South Korea is also a popular spot for cosmetic surgery. But the leading treatments there are operations
to create larger eyes, thinner noses and pointy chins.
A 2009 report from the research company Trend Monitor said one in five South Korean women has had
plastic surgery.
But South Africa is catching up.
“We are seeing a massive influx of patients from sub-Saharan Africa.”
Dr. Chris Snijman is the national secretary for the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of
South Africa (APRSSA). He says that there are several reasons for the increase in cosmetic treatments in
South Africa. These include a favorable exchange rate and better and safer surgical methods.
Mr. Snijman says there is also less of a stigma attached to plastic surgery in South Africa.
“Obviously they are becoming more socially aware, the social boundaries and stigma attached to
cosmetic surgery are now far less than they were before.”
And, he says a growing number of people in sub-Saharan Africa have more disposable income than in
the past.
"... not to mention our own emerging upper middle class group of patients in this country… and in
addition, they now have a disposable income.”
Dr. Julie Sinclair performs many non-surgical treatments every week. She says most of her customers
are women. But she says this is slowly changing.
“Over the last few years a lot more male patients are coming. So in terms of gender, that has changed
quite a lot. In terms of race perhaps, a lot of Asian, Indian, Thai, Chinese as well as black patients are
realizing that they can do something about something that is bothering them. And, I suppose, to some
extent, they are more able to do it as the economical climate changes as well.”
A lack of rules on the cosmetic surgery industry has led to a growing number of rogue surgeons. South
Africa’s medical professionals say as the industry continues to grow there must be stronger laws to
govern it.
I’m Anna Matteo.
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VOA correspondent Gillian Parker reported this story from Johannesburg. Anna Matteo wrote it for
Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
Words in This Story
cosmetic surgery [BrE kɒzˈmetɪkˈsɜːdʒəri; NAmE kɑːzˈmetɪkˈsɜːrdʒəri] also plastic surgery – n.
[uncountable] surgery that improves or repairs the form or appearance of body parts – мед.
косметическая хирургия, пластическая хирургия
safari [səˈfɑːri] – n. [uncountable, countable] (East African English) a journey to see or hunt animals
especially in Africa – сафа́ри, туристический поход для охоты на диких зверей, киносъёмок и т. п.
[первоначально охота в Восточной Африке]
luxurious [lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs] – adj. very comfortable and expensive; richly appealing – 1. роскошный; 2. дорогой
client [ˈklaɪənt] – n. [countable] a person who pays a professional person or organization for services –
1. клиент (адвоката, нотариуса, торговых и промышленных предприятий и т. п.); 2. постоянный покупатель, заказчик; 3. постоялец, гость (в гостинице)
stigma [ˈstɪɡmə] – n. [uncountable, countable, usually singular] a set of negative and often unfair beliefs
that a society or group of people have about something – 1. клеймо позора; 2. ист. стигма [в Древней
Греции – клеймо на теле раба или преступника]
disposable income [dɪˈspəʊzəbl ˈɪnkʌm or ˈɪnkəm] – n. [countable, uncountable] the personal income
that is left after the deduction of personal taxes and that is available for consumption and savings –
фин. (личный) доход (остающийся) после уплаты налогов; располагаемый доход
rogue [BrE rəʊɡ; NAmE roʊɡ] – adj. [only before noun] used to describe something or someone that is
different from others in usually a dangerous or harmful way – 1. преступный; 2. разг. жу́льнический,
моше́ннический; ненадёжный
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