Descriptionary

encephalography an X-ray technique revealing parts of the brain.

endoscopic retrograde lithotripsy the passing of an instrument through the bladder and into the ureter to remove stones.

endoscopic shock wave lithotripsy disintegrating and eliminating kidney stones by the use of shock waves instead of surgery.

enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) a

noninvasive medical therapy used to eliminate or reduce angina. The procedure employs a device that delivers pulses of pressure to the legs that are timedwith the patient's heartbeats. Over a course of 35 or more treatments, the technique lowers the pressure that the heart must pump against and increases the rate of return of blood to the heart, reducing pain from angina.

enterectomy removal of part of the intestine.

esophagectomy removal of the esophagus.

esophagoscopy the passing of an instrument down the throat to inspect the esophagus.

ether an inhaled anesthetic agent.

ethyl chloride a local anesthetic agent that freezes any tissue it comes in contact with.

ethylene an anesthetic gas.

eviscerate to open the abdomen and pull out the intestines.

excision the surgical removal of a tissue or organ.

face-lift plastic surgery to remove wrinkles.

flap a section (graft) of flesh that includes subcuta­neous fat, muscles, nerves, arteries, and veins trans­planted to another part of the body by microsurgery.

fluoroscopy a technique of producing live X-ray images of the internal organs in motion on a fluores­cent screen.

fundal plication a procedure to correct a hiatus hernia by wrapping the upper end of the stomach around the intruding portion of the esophagus.

gamma knife radiosurgery a surgery that employs an irradiation machine to concentrate gamma rays on brain and other tumors to destroy them. The method is used when tumors are difficult or otherwise impos­sible to remove surgically.

gastrectomy removal of part or all of the stomach.

gastric lavage prior to surgery, the washing out of all stomach contents.

gastrostomy the surgical creation of an opening into the stomach through the abdominal wall, when feeding through the mouth is not possible.

gingivectomy the surgical removal of part of the gums.

glossectomy removal of the tongue.

graft the transplanting of tissue from one part of the body to another. Also, the tissue so transplanted.

graft, auto a graft taken from the patient's own body.

graft, fascial a graft consisting of fibrous tissue.

graft, full thickness a graft containing all layers of the skin.

graft, split thickness a graft consisting of only part of the layers of the skin.

hemostasis the stopping of bleeding, achieved in surgery by clamping and tying off blood vessels.

hernioplasty surgical repair of a hernia.

heterograft a graft taken from an animal for use on a human.

homograft a graft taken from the body of another person.

hypodermic beneath the skin, as a hypodermic injection.

hysterectomy removal of the uterus. incise to cut surgically. incision a surgical cut.

intubation the passage of a tube into a body channel.

keratectomy removal of the cornea of the eye.

Kraske's operation removal of the rectum, coccyx, and part of the sacrum.

laparoscopy a minimally invasive surgical tech­nique in which a small incision is made in the abdo­men through which instruments may be inserted to perform a wide array of tasks, from examination of tissue to organ removal.

laryngectomy removal of the larynx (voice box).

lidocaine a local anesthetic agent.

lipectomy the removal of excess body fat.

liposuction a plastic surgery process in which excess fat is sucked from the body as a means of weight loss.

SURGICAL AND MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND RELATED TERMS 339

lobectomy removal of one of the five lobes of the lungs.

lobotomy removal of the front portion of the brain as a treatment for severe mental illness.

lumpectomy the removal of a tumor or mass.

mammoplasty plastic surgery to improve the appearance of the breasts.

mastectomy removal of a breast.

mastoplasty plastic surgery to reduce the size of the breasts.

McBurney's incision an angular incision in the lower right abdomen, for removal of the appendix.

myectomy removal of part or all of a muscle.

myringotomy an incision into the eardrum to remove pus.

nephrectomy removal of a kidney.

neurosurgery surgery of the brain, spinal cord, or nerves.