What is a tube thoracostomy? In a tube thoracostomy (chest drainage), pleural fluid, air, blood, and pus are removed from the pleural cavity. A tube thoracostomy, also known as open chest drainage, is a surgical procedure to drain the collection of pleural fluid, air, blood, or pus from your pleural cavity through a tube inserted …
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What is transvaginal cholecystectomy? Transvaginal cholecystectomy is a surgery in which the gallbladder is removed through the vagina. Transvaginal cholecystectomy is a novel surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder through the vaginal route. It is one of the three types of cholecystectomy—apart from the traditional open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy—that is done to treat patients with an inflamed gallbladder (cholecystitis). …
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A lumbar puncture is also called a spinal tap, spinal puncture, thecal puncture, or rachiocentesis. A lumbar puncture is usually not painful, as a patient is first given a local anesthetic. Most patients feel nothing except for the mild sting of the local anesthetic needle. It is possible to feel a pressure sensation as the needle goes in. The procedure is …
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Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) facts Enterococci (genus Enterococcus) are bacteria that commonly live in the bowel and are usually resistant to many antibiotics. VRE are enterococci that have become resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. There are only a few antibiotics that are able to treat VRE infections. However, newer antibiotics are being developed. People can be colonized with VRE, meaning that …
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What does synchronized electrical cardioversion mean? Cardioversion is typically used to terminate a life-threatening or unstable tachycardic arrhythmia. Synchronized electrical cardioversion is a medical procedure in which an electric current is passed through a person’s chest to convert abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) to normal heart rhythm. The direct current (DC) shocks to the heart has long been used successfully to …
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What is a trigger point injection? Trigger point injections are given to inactivate your trigger points and provide prompt relief from chronic pain from conditions such as myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. Trigger point injections are given to inactivate your trigger points, resulting in prompt relief from chronic pain. A trigger point is a painful point in the muscle that …
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How are COVID-19, allergies, cold, and flu caused? Symptoms of Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 can easily be confused with symptoms of the common cold or flu, or even allergies. Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. This disease can affect people of any age and gender. Most people with COVID-19 will …
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What is video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)? A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive thoracic surgery that provides adequate visualization despite limited access to the thorax. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive thoracic surgery that does not use a traditional open surgery approach. VATS provides adequate visualization despite limited access to the thorax. The operating time …
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What is a unicompartmental knee arthroplasty? A unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a surgical procedure in which only the damaged parts of the knee are replaced in one of the knee compartments. A unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a surgical procedure used to relieve disease in one of the knee compartments. In UKA, only the damaged parts of the knee …
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What is congestive heart failure? Heart failure can cause edema when extra fluid seeps into the lung cavity or other cavities. Diuretics treat this symptom, but do not cure heart failure. Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to efficiently pump blood to meet the body’s oxygen and nutrient needs. This impairs normal blood circulation …
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