Surgical and Medical Procedures

Adenoidectomy

Surgical removal of the adenoids. Adenoids are a mass of lymphoid tissue located behind the nasal passages.

Appendectomy

Surgical removal of the appendix.

Cholecystectomy

Surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Oophorectomy

Surgical removal of the ovaries

Splenectomy

Surgical removal of the spleen

Tonsillectomy

Surgical removal of the tonsils

Hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus.

Pacemaker vs. Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD)

The biggest difference between an ICD and pacemaker is an ICD continually monitors heart rhythm and can send low- or high-energy electrical impulses to correct an abnormal heart rhythm. ICDs will initially send low-energy pulses to restore heart rhythm, but switch to high-energy pulses when the low-energy shocks are ineffective. Pacemakers, however, will only give low-energy electrical pulses to restore regular heartbeat.ICDs are more effective in patients at high-risk for or with a history of sudden cardiac arrest, who may need these more powerful, high-energy electrical pulses to restore their regular heartbeat.

Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula or Dialysis Fistula

A fistula is an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein. This connection is made for hemodialysis. Since this connection bypasses the capillaries, blood flows more rapidly.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter or "PICC Line"

A form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period of time (e.g., for long chemotherapy regimens, extended antibiotic therapy, or total parenteral nutrition). Typically placed in the upper arm. There is an extension of the PICC line outside of the body at all times.

Cardiac Catheterization or Heart Catheterization

A medical procedure used to diagnose and treat some heart conditions. A long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is put into a blood vessel in your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck and threaded to your heart to determine if there are blockages in the coronary arteries.

Cardioversion

A medical procedure where an abnormally fast heart rate (tachycardia) or cardiac arrhythmia is converted to a normal rhythm using electricity or drugs.

Cardiac Ablation

A procedure to correct arrhythmias (such as Atrial Fibrillation). A catheter is inserted through a vein in the groin and threaded to the heart to correct structural problems in your heart causing the arrhythmia.

Hemodialysis or simply "Dialysis"

A process of purifying the blood of a person whose kidneys are not working normally. This type of dialysis removes waste products such as creatinine, urea and free water from the blood when the kidneys are in a state of failure.

Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (IDC)

A small device placed in your chest or abdomen if you have an irregular heartbeat or are at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. It sends electrical pulses or shocks to the heart when it senses any abnormalities in heartbeat. For example, if a patient with an ICD has an irregular heartbeat or goes into sudden cardiac arrest, the device will send a shock to the heart to restore normal heart rhythm.

Pacemaker

A small device placed under the skin of your chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Pacemakers are used to treat heart rhythms that are too slow, fast, or irregular.

Lobectomy

A surgery to remove one of the lobes of the lungs. The lungs have sections called lobes. The right lung has 3 lobes. The left lung has 2 lobes. A lobectomy may be done when a problem is found in just part of a lung.

Caesarean Section

A surgical operation for delivering a child by cutting through the wall of the mother's abdomen to remove the fetus.

Vasectomy

A surgical procedure for male sterilization. During the procedure, the male vas deferens are severed and then tied/sealed in a manner to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream (ejaculate) and thereby prevent fertilization.

Tubal Ligation

A surgical procedure for sterilization in women. The fallopian tubes are clamped and blocked, or severed and sealed, either method prevents eggs from reaching the uterus for implantation.

Above Knee Amputation (AKA)

A surgical procedure performed to remove the lower limb above the knee joint when that limb has been severely damaged or diseased (such as from diabetes).

Below Knee Amputation (BKA)

A surgical procedure performed to remove the lower limb just below the knee joint when that limb has been severely damaged or diseased (such as from diabetes).

Lumpectomy

A surgical procedure that involves removing a suspected malignant (cancerous) tumor, or lump, and a small portion of the surrounding tissue from a woman's breast. This tissue is then tested to determine if it contains cancerous cells.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt

A surgical procedure that primarily treats a condition called hydrocephalus. This condition occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collects in the brain's ventricles. CSF cushions your brain and protects it from injury inside your skull. The shunt is placed to drain excess fluid.

Colectomy

A surgical procedure to remove all or part of the colon. When only part of the colon is removed, it is called a "partial colectomy." The procedure is also known as a bowel resection.

Arthroplasty

A surgical procedure to restore the integrity and function of a joint.

Gastric Bypass

A surgical procedure to shrink the size of the stomach, so the patient cannot eat as much as they normally do. The surgeon will also re-route, or bypass, part of the digestive system so not as much food is absorbed. This procedure is for weight loss.

Carotid Endarterectomy

A surgical procedure used to reduce the risk of stroke by correcting stenosis (narrowing) in the carotid artery.

Lithotripsy

A treatment, typically using ultrasound shock waves, used to break kidney stones or other calculus into small particles that can be passed out by the body through the urethra.

Coronary Stents

A tube-shaped device is placed in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, to keep the arteries open in the treatment of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter also called a "Greenfield Filter"

A type of vascular filter that is implanted into the inferior vena cava to hopefully trap blood clots and prevent them from traveling to the heart and lungs.

Port-a-Cath

An IV (intravenous) catheter that is surgically implanted and placed underneath the skin near the clavicle. Used for frequent administration of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics, intravenous feeding, or blood draws. You can feel the port-a-cath underneath the skin, but there is no extension of the port-a-cath outside the body.

Valve Repair or Replacement (Bovine vs Mechanical)

Blood is pumped through your heart in only one direction. Heart valves aid this one-way blood flow, opening and closing with each heartbeat. Pressure changes on either side of the valves causing them to open their flap-like "doors" at just the right time, then close tightly to prevent a backflow of blood. If a valve is damaged, surgery is used to repair or replace the valve. There are 4 valves in the heart: Tricuspid, Pulmonary, Mitral, and Aortic.

Arteriovenous (AV) Graft or Dialysis Graft

Grafts are very similar to fistulas in most respects, except that an artificial vessel is used to join the artery and vein. Grafts are used when the patient's native vasculature does not permit a fistula.

Colostomy

Surgical formation of an artificial anus by connecting the colon to an opening in the abdominal for a channel for feces to leave the body.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

Surgical procedure used to treat Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). A blood vessel is removed from one area of the body (chest, arm or leg) and placed in the heart around the area or areas of narrowing to "bypass" the blockages and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. This vessel is called a graft.

Prostatectomy

Surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland

Mastectomy

Surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. A mastectomy is usually carried out to treat breast cancer.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

Surgical removal of part of the prostate gland. An instrument is inserted up the urethra to remove the section of the prostate that is blocking urine flow.This procedure relieves moderate to severe urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)