Operations

When a patient experiences cardiorespiratory arrest in a hospital setting, it is up to the health care professionals within the building to resuscitate the patient with the correct technique. The...

Cloning is the copying of a living organism, producing a separate genetic replica. While scientists have been interested in cloning since at least the early 1950s, the risks associated with this...

If you are a patient who has just been told that you are going to need an organ transplant, you need not feel scared. Medical advances and the use of technology have made organ transplantation...

Shoulder surgery may be the solution to pain in a shoulder. But if it is not paired with a strict regime of exercise to strengthen the muscles, you can end up with stiff joints as well as a...

The prostate gland, found in the male reproductive system, releases prostate-specific antigen (PSA), is a part of seminal fluid (semen) which carries sperm. BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia is...

There are many different types of spinal surgery, as the spine is long. Depending on what your spinal condition is, you can have surgery on anywhere from the base of your neck to your tailbone....

Although men can undergo vasectomies when they're young, most who have them do so at an age where they don't want any more children. A vasectomy is not considered major surgery, and very rarely...

Surgeons frequently use surgical steel staples to close segments of the bowels during procedures involving partial removal of the small or large intestine. A clamp-like instrument closes down...

An ileostomy is a surgical procedure designed to allow for effective management of bodily waste to help treat digestive conditions such as colon cancer, Crohn's disease and colitis. As with any...

Deciding to undergo surgery is a difficult thing, which can be made somewhat easier by understanding the various procedures surrounding the operation itself. When it comes to lung surgeries,...

If you recently had a PEG tube placed, or may need one in the near future, you're probably overwhelmed and wondering what may happen with it. Yes, you may have some complications with your PEG...

A radical prostatectomy is a procedure in which the prostate and surrounding tissues are removed to eliminate prostate cancer. During some procedures, tissue may also be removed from the pelvic...

An interscalene nerve block is a regional anesthetic commonly used for shoulder and upper-arm surgery as an alternative to general anesthesia. Some sedation is also provided. The patient stays...

A VAT (video-assisted thoracoscopic) surgical procedure is a type of minimally invasive operation on the lungs that allows for quicker recovery time than traditional forms of surgery. VAT...

When it comes to finding a cheap way to remove that unwanted tattoo, your options could cost you more than the artwork did that you now want to erase. If you choose to remove your tattoo through...

What does a ruptured spleen feel like? It's not pleasant. This organ is filled with blood, so any rupture can actually create a big problem for your well being. Although most people will never...

Thyroid surgery is typically performed on patients with thyroid nodules that are both cancerous and benign, goiters (or large thyroid gland) and overactive thyroid glands, known as hyperthyroid. A...

Anesthesiologists are vital to the success of a person's surgery. He is the one who monitors your health while under sedation. His or her services are extremely important in the operating room. ...

The type of back surgery you have will determine the duration of your healing time. Back surgery is an invasive procedure that is usually done to correct nerve damage due to compressed discs. Most...

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) refers to blocks or damages of the arteries responsible for the delivery of blood throughout the body. It is usually associated with the legs, but can be found in...

The scar left by circumcision can be a visual nuisance, a cause of irritation during intercourse and sometimes the site of penile cancer. The American Medical Association considers circumcision...

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a system of electromagnets which works in conjunction with pulses of highly specified radio waves to produce a picture. Unlike X-rays and CT-scans,...

Chronic shoulder pain is often caused by impingement syndrome, a pinched condition of the rotator cuff tendon. This condition is sometimes resolved by rest and therapy, but it might require...

An emergency tracheotomy can be necessary if a person cannot breathe and the Heimlich manuver (completed at least three times) has failed to restore normal breathing. Hundreds of people each year...

A minimally invasive treatment, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) blocks blood flow to fibroid tumors of the uterus. These benign tumors rarely turn cancerous, but can cause heavy menstrual...

Adenoids are located in the back of the throat near the tonsils. Their function is to prevent germs and bacteria from causing infections in the ears, nose, and throat. An adenoidectomy is...

Since the decision to have an abortion is life changing, it is important to weigh all options in order to make the best choice for yourself and your health. Although a surgical abortion is...

Snoring can be an embarrassing habit for the culprit and an insanely frustrating obstacle for those who have to attempt to sleep through it. Snoring impedes the sleep of millions of Americans...

Also called a lumbar puncture, a spinal tap is a medical procedure used to diagnose infections like meningitis, diseases like multiple sclerosis, some types of cancer and hemorrhagic strokes....

Sodium pentothal may be best known for its dark role in lethal injections as well as its former use by intelligence organizations as a 'truth serum.' Today, it is most often used for medical...

A c-section, also known as caesarean delivery, is the surgical delivery of an infant. Most c-sections take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. To prepare for the procedure, your abdomen will...

Cochlear implants are compact electronic devices consisting of an external portion and an internal portion. The internal part connects right to the auditory nerve and then to the brain. They help...

Wigs are made according to two main principals: those which can be blended to tone into the general makeup, which use lace netting, and those which provide hair without the need to blend makeup,...

A surgeon performs colon resection surgery when colon cancer has grown into the colon. During the surgery, the doctor removes some of the healthy tissue surrounding the cancer as well. The type of...

Post-cervical decompression surgery, or discectomy, is a medical procedure used to treat ruptured or herniated discs in your lower back. Though an effective treatment, discectomies present some...

"Vas" in vasectomy refers to the vas deferens, tiny tubes through which the sperm navigate from the testicles to the seminal vesicles. The "ectomy" part of the term means to cut or excise....

It can be overwhelming to know that you must have surgery on your foot. Our feet are the means by which so much of our daily tasks are accomplished. If you are prepared for foot surgery, rest...

The heart has long been considered the seat of our emotions, but it is also one of the most important organs in the human body. The ability to create a machine that can duplicate the function of...

A penectomy procedure---partial or complete removal of the penis---can be performed for a variety of reasons. If a child's penis is injured beyond repair during a circumcision, if penile cancer...

A liver transplant brings the hope of extended life for a person with liver failure. Since there is no known cure for many diseases of the liver, and since to date, medical technology has not...

A macular hole is a tear in the macula, a central area of the retina responsible for the eye's fine focus abilities. It is caused primarily by shrinkage of the gel-like vitreous that helps the eye...

An anal fistula is a colorectal condition in which a small tissue connection is created between the anal glands and the skin of the buttocks. This connection acts as a tunnel, allowing for leakage...

Having varicose vein surgery? You are not alone. Studies show over 12 million people in the US alone suffer from varicose veins. Left untreated they can cause you to form potentially deadly...

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile produced in the liver. The gallbladder kicks into gear when you eat fatty foods. On occasion, an imbalance of the gallbladder's chemistry...

Cataract surgery is a common, safe procedure in which the lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. This is performed when the natural lens is clouded and decreases visual...

Your gallbladder is a small organ that lies underneath your liver. Gallstones are small hard deposits that form inside your gallbladder. You can have gallstones and not know it. Sometimes...

The process of labia reduction, or more properly known as labiaplasty, is gaining much more popularity in the world of cosmetic surgery. This procedure can be done for either functional reasons or...

A surgeon creates a stoma, or small hole in the abdomen, by stitching the opening of the bowel or ureter to the skin of the abdomen. A bag can then be connected to the stoma to collect feces or...

Patients who undergo a gastrectomy surgery often have what is known as "dumping syndrome," which is caused when food passes too quickly into the small intestine. Shortly after eating, the patient...

Blood transfusions are essential for saving the lives of millions of people annually around the world. Transfusion donations and procedures follow strict policies to ensure that only disease-free...