Procedures & Diagnostics Flashcards

Surgical removal of the gallbladder. Decoded: chole (bile) + cyst (sac/bladder) + ectomy (surgical removal). Most are now performed laparoscopically and it is one of the most common abdominal surgeries.

Surgical removal of the appendix. Decoded: appendic (appendix) + ectomy (removal); the contracted form 'appendectomy' is standard in US English, while 'appendicectomy' is the older British form. Standard treatment for acute appendicitis to prevent rupture and peritonitis.

Visual examination of the colon using a flexible scope. Decoded: colon (large intestine) + scopy (visual examination). Used for colorectal cancer screening, polyp removal, and investigation of GI bleeding.

Endoscopy is visual examination of any internal body cavity using a scope (endo = within, scopy = examination). Upper GI endoscopy examines the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Colonoscopy specifically examines the colon.

A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Decoded: electro (electrical) + cardio (heart) + gram (recording). Used to diagnose arrhythmias, ischaemia, conduction blocks, and myocardial infarction.

A recording of the electrical activity of the brain. Decoded: electro (electrical) + encephalo (brain) + gram (recording). Used to diagnose epilepsy, sleep disorders, and assess brain function in coma or suspected brain death.

Surgical repair of a blood vessel, typically widening a narrowed or blocked artery using a balloon catheter. Decoded: angio (vessel) + plasty (repair). Often performed with stent placement during a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Imaging procedure that visualises blood vessels using contrast dye. Decoded: angio (vessel) + graphy (recording procedure). Coronary angiography images the heart's arteries; cerebral angiography images brain vessels.

Tracheotomy is the surgical incision into the trachea (otomy = cutting into). Tracheostomy creates an artificial opening through the neck into the trachea (ostomy = new opening), often kept patent with a tube for prolonged airway support.

Surgical creation of an opening between the colon and the abdominal wall, allowing stool to bypass a diseased or removed section of bowel. Decoded: col/o (colon) + ostomy (new opening). May be temporary or permanent.

Visual examination of the bronchi (airways) using a flexible scope. Decoded: broncho (airways) + scopy (visual exam). Used to investigate persistent cough, haemoptysis, suspected lung cancer, and to obtain tissue or fluid samples.

Visual examination of the inside of a joint using a small camera through a tiny incision. Decoded: arthro (joint) + scopy (visual exam). Commonly used for the knee and shoulder, both diagnostically and to perform repairs.

Dialysis is artificial filtration of blood when the kidneys fail. Haemodialysis filters blood through an external machine (haemo = blood). Peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneal membrane inside the abdomen as the filter, with dialysate fluid exchanged through a permanent catheter.

Surgical removal of a tissue sample for microscopic examination. Decoded: bio (life) + opsy (viewing). Types include needle biopsy, excisional biopsy (whole lesion removed), and incisional biopsy (part of a lesion removed). Definitive for diagnosing cancer.

Imaging of the breast using low-dose X-rays. Decoded: mammo (breast) + graphy (recording procedure). Used for breast cancer screening and to investigate suspicious lumps. Resulting image is called a mammogram.

Surgical removal of the uterus. Decoded: hyster (uterus) + ectomy (removal). May be subtotal (also called supracervical, uterus only) or total (uterus and cervix); a radical hysterectomy also removes surrounding tissue and sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Surgical incision into the skull to access the brain. Decoded: cranio (skull) + otomy (cutting into). Used for tumour resection, aneurysm repair, evacuating a haematoma, or relieving raised intracranial pressure.

Visual examination of the abdominal cavity using a small scope inserted through a tiny incision. Decoded: laparo (abdomen) + scopy (visual exam). Forms the basis of minimally invasive abdominal surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, etc.).

Procedure to break up stones (kidney stones, gallstones) into small fragments that can pass naturally. Decoded: litho (stone) + tripsy (crushing). Most commonly performed using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which uses focused sound waves from outside the body.

A procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space using a needle inserted through the chest wall. Decoded: thorac/o (chest) + centesis (surgical puncture to draw out fluid); the o elides before the vowel. Used to diagnose and treat pleural effusions and to relieve pneumothorax.