Glossary of surgery

The following pages are a comprehensive glossary of terms commonly used in the field of Surgery. Each term links to a page that provides detailed information on the surgical concept, procedure, or instrument it represents.

Abdominoplasty - also known as a "Tummy tuck," this is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the abdomen.
Abscess - a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body, often requiring surgical drainage.
Anastomosis - a surgical connection between two structures. It commonly refers to connections made between blood vessels or between two segments of the intestine.
Anesthesia - a range of procedures aimed at temporarily inducing loss of sensation or awareness; used in surgery to numb or render unconsciousness.
Angioplasty - a surgical procedure to restore or improve blood flow in a diseased blood vessel, particularly the heart's arteries.
Appendectomy - the surgical removal of the appendix, often performed to treat appendicitis.
Arthroscopy - a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope.
Autograft - a graft of tissue from one point to another of the same individual's body.
Bariatric surgery - a variety of procedures aimed at inducing weight loss by modifying the gastrointestinal tract to reduce nutrient intake and absorption.
Biopsy - the surgical removal of tissue samples for the purpose of diagnosing diseases, especially cancer.
Bowel resection - a surgical procedure in which a part of the intestine is removed due to conditions like cancer, blockage, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Burr hole - a procedure that involves drilling a small hole in the skull to relieve pressure or to provide access for neurosurgical procedures.
Bypass surgery - surgery that can refer to any operation to redirect the flow of blood or other fluids, such as in coronary artery bypass surgery.
Caesarean section - also known as c-section, a surgical procedure used to deliver one or more babies via an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus.
Cannulation - the insertion of a cannula into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow drainage or administration of fluids or gases.
Cholecystectomy - the surgical removal of the gallbladder, often performed to treat gallstones or other gallbladder diseases.
Colectomy - surgical removal of all or part of the colon (large intestine), often to treat diseases such as cancer or ulcerative colitis.
Craniotomy - a surgical operation in which a bone flap is temporarily removed from the skull to access the brain.
Debridement - the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.
Decortication - a surgical procedure that involves removing the outer layer of an organ or structure, commonly performed in the lungs.
Defibrillation - a procedure used in cardiac life support for the treatment of life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, restoring normal heart rhythm.
Dialysis access surgery - a surgical procedure to create a vascular access for dialysis treatment in patients with renal failure.
Discectomy - the surgical removal of abnormal disc material that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord in the vertebral column.
Drainage - the surgical process of removing fluid, pus, or blood from a wound or body cavity.
Duodenectomy - a surgical procedure involving the removal of the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine.
Elective surgery - surgery that is scheduled in advance because it does not involve a medical emergency.
Endarterectomy - a surgical procedure to remove the atherosclerotic plaque material, or blockage, from the inside of an artery.
Endoscopic surgery - a type of surgery that uses endoscopic cameras and instruments inserted through small incisions for minimally invasive procedures.
Enterectomy - surgical removal of a portion of the intestine.
Esophagectomy - the surgical removal of all or part of the esophagus, often due to cancer.
Excision - the surgical act of cutting away or removing tissue, usually for the purpose of removing diseased tissue or a tumor.
Exploratory surgery - a surgery to open up the body and look inside to try to find out what is causing symptoms that are not clear.
Fasciectomy - a surgical procedure that involves the removal of fascia, a band of connective tissue, to relieve symptoms of diseases such as dupuytren's contracture.
Femoral hernia repair - surgery to repair a femoral hernia, a bulge near the groin or thigh caused by tissues pushing through a weakness in the abdominal wall.
Fetal surgery - a highly specialized surgical intervention performed on the fetus before birth to repair congenital conditions.
Fistulectomy - the surgical removal of an anal fistula, an abnormal connection between the end of the bowel and the skin near the anus.
Fracture reduction - the surgical procedure of aligning broken bones to their normal positions.
Fundoplication - a surgical technique to sew the fundus of the stomach around the esophagus to prevent acid reflux.
Gastrectomy - a surgical operation where a part or all of the stomach is removed.
Gastric banding - a surgical procedure in which an adjustable band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach to limit food intake and promote weight loss.
Gastric bypass surgery - a type of bariatric surgery that involves creating a small pouch from the stomach and connecting the newly created pouch directly to the small intestine.
Gastrostomy - the creation of an artificial external opening into the stomach for nutritional support or gastric decompression.
Glossectomy - surgical removal of all or part of the tongue.
Graft - a surgical procedure to move tissue from one site to another on the body, or from another creature, without bringing its own blood supply with it.
Gynecological surgery - surgical procedures that are performed on the female reproductive system, which includes procedures such as hysterectomy or oophorectomy.
Hemicolectomy - a surgical procedure to remove one side of the colon when diseased.
Hemorrhoidectomy - the surgical removal of hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus.
Hepatectomy - the surgical resection, or removal, of all or part of the liver.
Herniorrhaphy - surgical repair of a hernia by closing the hernia defect without the use of a mesh.
Hip replacement - a surgical procedure in which a hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant, that is, a hip prosthesis.
Hyperhidrosis surgery - surgical treatment options for hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, like endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ets).
Hysterectomy - a surgical procedure to remove a woman's uterus.
Ileostomy - a surgical opening constructed by bringing the end or loop of small intestine (the ileum) out onto the surface of the skin. Intestinal waste passes out of the ileostomy and is collected in an external pouching system.
Incision and drainage - a minor surgical procedure to release pus or pressure built up under the skin, such as from an abscess, boil, or infected paranasal sinus.
Inguinal hernia repair - surgery to repair a weakness in the abdominal wall through which abdominal contents can protrude.
Intubation - the placement of a tube into an external or internal orifice of the body for the purpose of adding or removing substances, such as the insertion of a breathing tube into the trachea for administration of anesthesia or for mechanical ventilation.
Iridectomy - the surgical removal of part of the iris, the colored portion of the eye. This can be done to treat or prevent glaucoma, or during the removal of a cataract.
Jejunostomy - a surgical procedure in which a hole (stoma) is made in the jejunum (part of the small intestine) to promote feeding directly into the intestine.
Joint aspiration - a procedure, often performed under local anesthesia, in which a sterile needle and syringe are used to drain fluid from the joint space. This is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.
Joint replacement - also known as arthroplasty, this is a surgical procedure in which a dysfunctional or painful joint is replaced with a prosthesis.
Keratoplasty - also known as corneal transplantation, it is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue.
Kidney transplant - a surgical procedure to place a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly.
Knee arthroscopy - a minimally invasive surgical procedure on the knee joint to diagnose and treat conditions such as tears in the meniscus or ligaments.
Knee replacement - also known as knee arthroplasty, it's a surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint to relieve pain and disability, commonly caused by osteoarthritis.
Kyphoplasty - a surgical procedure aimed at stopping the pain caused by a spinal fracture, helping to restore a damaged vertebra's height and relieving spinal deformity.
Labiaplasty - a surgical procedure to alter the size and shape of the labia minora or labia majora, the folds of skin surrounding the human vulva.
Laminectomy - a type of surgery in which a physician removes part or all of the vertebral bone (lamina) to relieve compression of the spinal cord or the nerve roots that may be caused by injury, herniated disk, spinal stenosis, or tumors.
Laparoscopic surgery - also known as minimally invasive surgery, it is a modern surgical technique in which operations are performed through small incisions elsewhere in the body with the aid of a camera.
Laryngectomy - a surgical procedure for the removal of the larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose and esophagus, typically to treat advanced cancer of the larynx.
Laser surgery - a type of surgery that uses a laser to cut tissue instead of a scalpel. It is commonly used for ophthalmological, dermatological, dental, and cosmetic procedures.
Liposuction - a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes fat from many different sites on the human body.
Liver transplant - the replacement of a diseased liver with some or all of a healthy liver from another person.
Lobectomy - a surgical procedure that removes one of the lobes of the lungs.
Lumpectomy - a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a conspicuous lump in the breast, commonly performed when cancer is present but has not spread.
Mastectomy - a surgical operation to remove one or both breasts, partially or completely. It is usually performed to treat breast cancer.
Microdiscectomy - also known as microdecompression spine surgery, it is a minimally invasive procedure used to relieve pressure on a spinal nerve root caused by a herniated disc.
Myomectomy - a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids while preserving the uterus, performed for women who wish to get pregnant or who want to keep their uterus for other reasons.
Myoplasty - reconstructive or plastic surgery of muscle tissue, often involving the transfer of muscle tissue to a different site on the body.
Myringotomy - a surgical procedure in which a small incision is made in the eardrum to relieve pressure caused by the excessive buildup of fluid, or to drain pus from the middle ear.
Nephrectomy - a surgical procedure to remove all or part of a kidney. This could be due to various reasons including kidney cancer or severe kidney damage.
Neurosurgery - the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders that affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
Node dissection - also known as lymphadenectomy, it's a procedure where lymph nodes are removed for the purpose of cancer treatment.
Nuss procedure - a minimally invasive surgery to correct pectus excavatum, a condition where the breastbone is sunken into the chest.
Oophorectomy - a surgical procedure to remove one or both ovaries, often performed as a treatment for certain ovarian diseases or as part of a hysterectomy.
Orthognathic surgery - a type of orthopedic surgery that corrects conditions of the jaw and face related to structure, growth, sleep apnea, tmj disorders, malocclusion problems owing to skeletal disharmonies, or other orthodontic problems that cannot be easily treated with braces.
Orthopedic surgery - a branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, employing surgical and nonsurgical means to treat.
Ostomy - a surgical procedure that creates an opening (stoma) from an area inside the body to the outside to treat certain diseases of the digestive or urinary systems.
Otoplasty - a cosmetic surgery to change the appearance of a person's external ears.
Ovarian cystectomy - a surgical procedure that involves the removal of cysts from one or both ovaries.
Pancreatectomy - a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the pancreas. This can be performed to treat pancreatic cancer or other pancreatic diseases.
Parathyroidectomy - the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands, usually to treat hyperparathyroidism.
Pediatric surgery - a subspecialty of surgery involving the surgery of fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Pericardiectomy - a surgical procedure performed to remove part or all of the pericardium, often to treat constrictive pericarditis.
Phacoemulsification - a modern cataract surgery in which the eye's internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece and aspirated from the eye.
Pneumonectomy - a surgical procedure to remove a lung, performed to treat lung cancer or other serious pulmonary diseases.
Prostatectomy - the surgical removal of part or all of the prostate gland, often used to treat prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Pyeloplasty - a surgical reconstruction or revision of the renal pelvis to drain and decompress the kidney, typically performed to treat ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
Quadrantectomy - a breast-conserving surgery where a quarter of the breast tissue is removed, typically as a treatment for breast cancer.
Quervain's release - a surgical procedure to release the sheath covering the tendons affected by de quervain's tenosynovitis, which causes pain in the wrist near the base of the thumb.
Quilting sutures - a technique used in surgery to prevent seroma formation, often used in abdominoplasty, breast surgery, or skin grafts.
Radical mastectomy - an extensive surgical procedure that involves the removal of the entire breast, axillary lymph nodes, and the chest wall muscles under the breast. Historically performed for breast cancer, but less common today due to advancements in treatment.
Reconstructive surgery - surgery performed to restore the form and function of the body, often utilized after traumatic injury, congenital defects, or following prior surgery, such as mastectomy.
Reduction mammaplasty - also known as breast reduction surgery, this procedure removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with the body and alleviate discomfort associated with overly large breasts.
Renal transplantation - also known as a kidney transplant, it is a surgical procedure to place a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly.
Revision surgery - surgery performed to correct or modify the result of a previous surgical procedure.
Rhinoplasty - a surgical procedure for correcting and reconstructing the nose, either to improve its function (reconstructive surgery) or to improve its appearance (cosmetic surgery).
Robotic surgery - a type of minimally invasive surgery that uses a computer-assisted technology to aid in surgical procedures, providing greater precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with conventional techniques.
Salpingo-oophorectomy - a surgical procedure to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is often performed when ovarian cancer is present or to reduce the risk of cancer.
Septoplasty - a corrective surgical procedure done to straighten the nasal septum, the partition between the two nasal cavities.
Shunt surgery - surgery to insert a shunt, which is a tube that is placed into the body to move fluid from one area to another. Used to treat conditions like hydrocephalus.
Sleeve gastrectomy - a type of bariatric surgery for weight loss, which involves the removal of a portion of the stomach to reduce its size.
Splenectomy - a surgical operation involving the removal of the spleen, often necessitated by conditions like trauma, blood disorders, or cancers affecting the spleen.
Stereotactic surgery - a minimally invasive form of surgical intervention which makes use of a three-dimensional coordinate system to locate small targets inside the body and to perform an action such as ablation, biopsy, lesion, injection, stimulation, implantation, etc.
Strabismus surgery - surgery performed on the extraocular muscles to correct the misalignment of the eyes, known as strabismus or crossed eyes.
Sympathectomy - a surgical procedure that destroys nerves in the sympathetic nervous system to reduce pain or improve blood flow.
Thoracotomy - an incision into the chest wall to gain access to the organs in the thoracic cavity, often for procedures on the lungs or heart.
Thyroidectomy - a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland, typically to treat thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, or goiter.
Tracheostomy - a surgical procedure to create an opening through the neck into the trachea to allow direct access to the breathing tube.
Ureteroscopy - an endoscopic procedure to treat stones and lesions in the ureter and kidney.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (uppp) - a surgery used to remove tissue and/or remodel tissue in the throat, often to treat sleep apnea.
Vagotomy - a surgical procedure in which one or more branches of the vagus nerve are cut, typically to reduce acid secretion in the stomach.
Vasectomy - a surgical procedure for male sterilization or permanent contraception.
Vertebral fusion - a surgical procedure to join two or more vertebrae to prevent movement between them, used to treat spinal conditions like fractures, scoliosis, or herniated discs.
Whipple procedure - a complex surgical procedure to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct. It is often used to treat pancreatic cancer.
Xenograft - a surgical graft of tissue from one species to an unlike species, genus, family, or order, often used in burn treatment and reconstructive surgery.
YAG laser capsulotomy - a laser treatment used to improve vision after cataract surgery where the back of the lens capsule has become cloudy.
Z-plasty - a surgical technique used to improve the functional and cosmetic appearance of scars.
Zenker's diverticulum - surgical treatment for a pouch that can form at the junction of the esophagus and throat.
see also Dictionary of surgery

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