What is Mycapssa (octreotide)? Mycapssa is indicated for long-term maintenance treatment in acromegaly patients who have responded to and tolerated treatment with octreotide or lanreotide. Acromegaly is a condition due to the production of too much growth hormone by the pituitary gland after the end of adolescence. When there is secretion of too much growth …

What is metacarpophalangeal arthrocentesis? Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis) helps diagnose inflammatory or non-inflammatory arthritis. Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis) of the metacarpophalangeal joint is a diagnostic procedure involving the extraction and analysis of the synovial fluid of the joints.  It is an important component in diagnosing arthritis and differentiating inflammatory arthritis from non-inflammatory arthritis. Arthrocentesis can also be performed therapeutically (for pain relief, …

What is medical thoracoscopy? Medical thoracoscopy is a procedure that helps a physician view the chest cavity and the lungs by inserting an endoscope/thoracoscope (camera with light source) through the chest wall. Thoracoscopy may be performed as a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. It is also called a pleuroscopy.   Medical thoracoscopy shows a doctor a view of the chest cavity and lungs …

What is an intradiscal electrothermal therapy procedure? Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) treats low back (spinal disc) pain. Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) or intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty (IDEA), is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of low back pain caused due to problems with the spinal disc.  IDET introduces a flexible catheter into the disc under fluoroscopic guidance. The catheter is …

What is an Ileoanal anastomosis (J-pouch) surgery? An ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (J-pouch) is a surgical procedure to restore the stomach and bowel (gastrointestinal) continuity after the surgical removal of the large bowel (the colon and rectum).  An ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (J-pouch) surgery treats the stomach and bowel. Many conditions, including inflammatory diseases, cancer or infection, may necessitate the complete surgical …

What is a laryngeal mask airway (LMA)? A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) allows ventilation, oxygenation, and anesthesia without needing a tube in the windpipe. A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is a device inserted into the area behind the mouth and nose, connecting them to the food pipe (the pharynx) to allow ventilation, oxygenation, and administration of anesthetic gases, without the …

What are hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of the rectum and anus. They are also called piles.  Hemorrhoids can be treated by hemorrhoidectomy or stapled hemorrhoidopexy. The most accurate explanation for the development of hemorrhoids is that they appear due to the abnormal sliding of the veins at your bottom because of sustained straining during passing …

What is a fractional flow reserve measurement? A fractional flow reserve (FFR) estimates the degree of blockage in the coronary arteries.  A fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a procedure done during cardiac catheterization to estimate the degree of blockage in the coronary arteries. It is a guide wire-based procedure that determines the ratio between the maximum achievable blood flow in …

What is a gastrostomy tube or G-tube? A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is a feeding tube that is placed into the abdomen to provide nutrition or medication to the patients who are unable to feed themselves.  A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) feeds nutrition or medication into the abdomen. A G-tube is placed through a small cut in the abdominal wall via a …

The omentum is the fatty tissue that secures the intestines and other abdominal organs in place, supplying them with blood along with physically protecting them. The omentum ("policeman of the abdomen") is a double layer of fatty tissue that covers and supports the intestines and organs in the lower abdomen. The omentum comprises the greater omentum which is important storage for fat deposits and the …