adenoidectomy   

(ad-in-oid-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the adenoids.

adrenalectomy   

(a-dree-nal-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of an adrenal gland.

anastomosis   

(an-ass-toh-moh'sis)
surgical joining of two blood vessels or tubular cavities, such as the intestine.

angiography   

(an-ji-og'raf-ee)
a diagnostic method of viewing the blood vessels following injection of a radiopaque substance.

appendicectomy   

(ap-end-i-sekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the appendix.

arthroplasty   

(arth'roh-plas-tee)
replacement of a joint or part of a joint by metal or plastic components.

arthroscopy   

(arth-ros'kop-ee)
inspection inside a joint using an endoscope.

balloon angioplasty   

(an'ji-oh-plas-tee)
a technique for treating a narrowed or blocked section of blood vessel by introducing a catheter with a balloon into the constricted area.

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy   

(by-lat'er-ul sal-ping-oh-oh-off-or-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries.

bronchoscopy   

(bron-kos'kop-ee)
examination of the bronchi (airways) by means of an endoscope known as a bronchoscope.

bypass   

a procedure to bypass the blockage or narrowing of an artery or vein . Obstructions can be bypassed using sections of healthy artery or vein from elsewhere in the body or using prosthetic stents.

carotid arteriogram   

(kar-ot'id ar-teer'ee-oh-gram)
a diagnostic method of examining the blood vessels of the brain using opaque dye and x-rays.

cholecystectomy   

(koli-sis-tekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the gall bladder.

circumcision   

(sur-cum-si'zhun)
surgical removal of the foreskin.

colostomy   

(kol-ost'oh-mee)
surgical procedure in which an opening is created in the abdominal wall, to which the colon is brought up and attached to act as an artificial anus.

colposcopy   

(col-pos'kop-ee)
visual inspection of the cervix and vagina using a magnifying instrument called a colposcope.

craniotomy   

(cray-nee-ot'oh-mee)
surgical opening of the skull.

cystectomy   

(sis-tek-toh-me)
surgical removal of the bladder.

cystoscopy   

(sis-tos'kop-ee)
the examination of the urethra and bladder using a cystoscope which is inserted up the urethra.

electrocardiogram   

(el-ek-troh-kar'dee-oh-gram)
recording/tracing of the pattern of the heart�s electrical impulses.

embolectomy   

(em-boh-lekt'oh-mee)
emergency procedure to remove a blood clot (embolus).

fixation   

(fiks-ay'shun)
the alignment and stabilisation of fracture of bones. It can be internal using screws, pins or plates temporarily or permanently attached to or in the bone. External fixation involves the use of pins through the bone attached to a steel rod outside the limb.

gastrectomy   

(gas-trekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of all or part of the stomach.

gastroscopy   

(gas-tros'kop-ee)
examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract ( oesophagus, stomach and duodenum) using an endoscope.

haemorrhoidectomy   

(hem-er-oyd-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of haemorrhoids.

hysterectomy   

(his-ter-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the uterus.

hysteroscopy   

(his-ter-os'kop-ee)
a technique that uses a hysteroscope to diagnose disorders inside the uterus and fallopian tubes .

ileal conduit   

(il'ee-ul con'dwit)
the use of part of the small intestine (ileum) as a disposal route for urine by implanting the ureters into it after surgical removal of the urinary bladder.

iridectomy   

(iri-dekt'oh-mee)
removal of part of the eye�s iris .

laparoscopy   

(lap-ar-os'kop-ee)
examination of the interior of the abdomen using a laparoscope, which is a type of endoscope.

laparotomy   

(lap-ar-ot'oh-mee)
any operation in which the abdomen is opened either for diagnostic purposes or for surgical treatment.

lumbar puncture   

(lum'ber punk'cher)
method of obtaining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic purposes by inserting a needle between two vertebrae at the base of the spine.

meniscectomy   

(meni-sekt'oh-mee)
removal, either total or partial, of the meniscus (cartilage) in a joint � most commonly the knee.

myringotomy   

(mi-ring-ot'oh-mee)
cutting of the ear drum to release trapped fluid.

nephrectomy   

(nef-rekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of one or both the kidneys.

nephrostomy   

(nef-rost'oh-mee)
the introduction of a small tube into the kidney to drain urine to the abdominal surface, bypassing the ureter and bladder.

orchidectomy   

(orki-dekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of a testicle (testis ).

orchidopexy   

(or'kid-oh-pek-si)
an operation to bring down an undescended testis into the scrotum.

pacemaker   

surgical implantation of an electronic device that produces regular short pulses of electricity to promote contraction of the heart muscle in people with a defect of the heart�s conduction system.

phlebotomy   

(fli-bot'oh-mee)
puncture of a vein, usually to withdraw blood.

prostatectomy   

(pros-tayt-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the prostate gland.

reduction   

(ree-duk'shun)
manipulation back into the original position, either open or closed, as of a bone.

resection   

(ree-sek'shun)
surgical removal of a portion of any part of the body.

resection of prostate   

(ree-sek'shun of pros'tayt)
removal of part of the prostate gland; when performed transurethrally (i.e. through the urethra), it is referred to as a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

rhinoplasty   

(ry'noh-plas-tee)
any cosmetic operation to alter the shape of the nose.

sigmoid colectomy   

(sig'moyd col-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the sigmoid colon.

skin biopsy   

(by'op-see)
surgical procedure in which a sample of skin tissue is removed for microscopic examination in a laboratory.

skin graft   

the transfer of a piece of skin, usually a person�s own but occasionally from a donor, from one area of the body to another.

stapedectomy   

(stay-pi-dekt'oh-mee)
replacing a diseased stapes (stirrup bone) within the ear.

submucous resection   

(sub-myoo'kus ree-sek'shun)
an operation to relieve nasal obstruction by removing displaced cartilage and bone from underneath the mucous membrane of a deviated nasal septum.

thyroidectomy   

(thy-royd-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the thyroid gland.

tonsillectomy   

(ton-sil-ekt'oh-mee)
surgical removal of the tonsils.

tracheostomy   

(trak-ee-ost'oh-mee)
an operation in which an opening is made into the trachea and a tube is inserted to maintain an effective airway.

tracheotomy   

(trak-ee-ot'oh-mee)
the cutting open of the trachea .

vasectomy   

(vas-ekt'oh-mee)
operation for male sterilisation where the vas deferens are cut, tied off and secured well apart.

venography   

(ven-og'raf-ee)
a diagnostic method of examining the inside of veins using x-rays and an opaque solution injected into the veins.

Z-plasty   

(zed-plas'tee)
a plastic surgical technique for relieving skin tension or releasing scar contracture.