« Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide
for Patients and Nurses
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a set of laboratory
tests that examine a sample of the fluid surrounding
the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is an ultrafiltrate
of plasma.
Cervical Cerclage
A cervical cerclage is a minor surgical procedure in
which the opening to the uterus (the cervix) is
stitched closed in order to prevent a miscarriage or
premature birth.
Cervical Cryotherapy
Cervical cryotherapy is a procedure which involves
freezing an area of abnormal tissue on the cervix. This
tissue gradually disappears and the cervix heals.
Cesarean Section
A cesarean section is a surgical procedure in which
incisions are made through a woman's abdomen and
uterus to deliver her baby.
Chest Tube Insertion
A chest tube insertion is a procedure to place a
flexible, hollow drainage tube into the chest in order
to remove an abnormal collection of air or fluid from
the pleural space (located between the inner and
outer lining of the lung).
Chest X Ray
A chest x ray is a procedure used to evaluate organs
and structures within the chest for symptoms of
disease. Chest x rays include views of the lungs,
heart, small portions of the gastrointestinal tract,
thyroid gland, and the bones of the chest area.
Cholecystectomy
A cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the
gallbladder. The two basic types of this procedure are
open cholecystectomy and the laparoscopic approach.
Circumcision
The surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis, or
prepuce of the clitoris.

Cleft Lip Repair
Cleft lip repair (cheiloplasty) is surgical procedure to
correct a groove-like defect in the lip.
Club Foot Repair
Club foot repair, also known as foot tendon release or
club foot release, is the surgical repair of a birth
defect of the foot and ankle called club foot.
Cochlear Implants
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic
device used to treat severe to profound hearing loss.
It is surgically implanted underneath the skin behind
the patient's ear.
Collagen Periurethral Injection
Collagen periurethral injection is a procedure in which
collagen is injected around the urethra and bladder
neck as a treatment for stress incontinence in women.
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is an endoscopic medical procedure that
uses a long, flexible, lighted tubular instrument called
a colonoscope to view the rectum and the entire inner
lining of the colon (large intestine).
Colorectal Surgery
Colorectal surgery repairs damage to the colon,
rectum, and anus through a variety of procedures that
may have little or great long-term consequence to the
patient. It may also involve surgery to the pelvic floor
to repair hernias.
Colostomy
A colostomy is a surgical procedure that brings a
portion of the large intestine through the abdominal
wall to carry feces out of the body.
Colporrhaphy
Colporrhaphy is the surgical repair of a defect in the
vaginal wall, including a cystocele (when the bladder
protrudes into the vagina) and a rectocele (when the
rectum protrudes into the vagina).
Colposcopy
Colposcopy is a procedure that allows a physician to
examine a woman's cervix and vagina using a special
microscope called a colposcope. It is used to check for
precancerous or abnormal areas.
Colpotomy
A colpotomy, also known as a vaginotomy, is a
procedure by which an incision is made in the vagina.
Complete Blood Count
A complete blood count (CBC) is a series of tests used
to evaluate the composition and concentration of the
cellular components of blood. It consists of the
following tests: red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood
cell (WBC) count, and platelet count; measurement of
hemoglobin and mean red cell volume; classification
of white blood cells (WBC differential); and calculation
of hematocrit and red blood cell indices.
Cone Biopsy
A cone biopsy is a surgical procedure in which a cone-
shaped tissue sample from the cervix is removed for
examination. Also called cervical conization, a cone
biopsy is done to diagnose cervical cancer or to
remove cancerous or precancerous tissue.
Corneal Transplantation
In corneal transplant, also known as keratoplasty, a
patient's damaged cornea is replaced by the cornea
from the eye of a human cadaver. This is the most
common type of human transplant surgery and has
the highest success rate.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a surgical
procedure in which one or more blocked coronary
arteries are bypassed by a blood vessel graft to
restore normal blood flow to the heart. These grafts
usually come from the patient's own arteries and
veins located in the leg, arm, or chest.
Coronary Stenting
A coronary stent is an artificial support device placed
in the coronary artery to keep the vessel open after
treatment for coronary artery disease. Also called
atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease is a build-up
of fatty matter and debris on the walls of the arteries.
Corpus Callosotomy
Corpus callosotomy is a treatment for epilepsy, in
which a group of fibers connecting the two sides of
the brain, called the corpus callosum, is cut.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are a group of natural and synthetic
analogs (chemical cousins) of the hormones secreted
by the pituitary gland, also known as the
hypothalamic-anterior pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA)
axis. These analogs include glucocorticoids, which are
anti-inflammatory agents with a large number of other
functions; mineralocorticoids, which control salt and
water balance primarily through action on the
kidneys; and corticotropins, which control secretion of
hormones by the pituitary gland.
Craniofacial Reconstruction
Craniofacial reconstruction refers to a group of
procedures used to repair or reshape the face and
skull of a living person, or to create a replica of the
head and face of a dead or missing person. The word
"craniofacial" is a combination of "cranium," which is
the medical word for the upper portion of the skull,
and facial.
Craniotomy
A craniotomy is a procedure to remove a lesion in the
brain through an opening in the skull (cranium).
Cricothyroidotomy
Cricothyroidotomy is usually regarded as an
emergency surgical procedure in which a surgeon or
other trained person cuts a hole through a membrane
in the patient's neck into the windpipe in order to
allow air into the lungs. Cricothyroidotomy is a
subtype of surgical procedure known as a
tracheotomy; in some situations, it is considered an
elective alternative to other types of tracheotomy.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a technique that uses an extremely
cold liquid or instrument to freeze and destroy
abnormal skin cells that require removal. The
technique has been in use since the turn of the
century, but modern techniques have made it widely
available to dermatologists and primary care doctors.
Cryotherapy for Cataracts
Cryosurgery, or cryotherapy, is a technique that
destroys abnormal tissue by freezing the cells.
Cryotherapy can be used in the treatment of
cataracts.
CT Scans
Computed tomography (CT) scans are completed with
the use of a 360-degree x-ray beam and computer
production of images. These scans allow for cross-
sectional views of body organs and tissues.
Curettage and Electrosurgery
Curettage is the surgical removal of growths or tissue
from the wall of a body cavity or other surface, using a
spoon-like instrument with a sharp edge called a
curette. Electrosurgery is a procedure that cuts,
destroys, or cauterizes tissue using a high-frequency
electric current applied locally with a pencil-shaped
metal instrument or needle.
Cyclocryotherapy
Cyclocryotherapy (CCT) is a procedure that employs
temperatures as low as -112°F (-80°C) to destroy the
ciliary body, an organ in the anterior chamber of the
eye behind for cyclocryotherapy, the patient's eyelids
are first retracted (A). A cryoprobe is applied to the
outside of the eyeball in the area surrounding the iris
(B).
Cystectomy
Cystectomy is a surgical procedure that removes all or
part of the urinary bladder, the muscular organ that
collects urine from the kidneys for excretion at a later
time. Partial or segmental cystectomy removes part of
the bladder; simple cystectomy removes the entire
bladder; and radical cystectomy removes the bladder
as well as other pelvic organs or structures.
Cystocele Repair
A cystocele is the protrusion or prolapse of the
bladder into the vagina. A number of surgical
interventions are available to treat cystoceles.
Cystoscopy
Cystoscopy (cystourethroscopy) is a diagnostic
procedure that uses a cystoscope, which is an
endoscope especially designed for urological use to
examine the bladder, lower urinary tract, and prostate
gland. It can also be used to collect urine samples,
perform biopsies, and remove small stones.
Death and Dying
Death is the end of life, a permanent cessation of all
vital functions. Dying refers to the body's preparation
for death, which may be very short in the case of
accidental death, or can last weeks or months in some
patients such as those with cancer.
Debridement
Debridement is the process of removing dead
(necrotic) tissue or foreign material from and around a
wound to expose healthy tissue.
Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) delivers a constant low
electrical stimulation to a small region of the brain,
through implanted electrodes connected to an
implanted battery. It is used to partially restore
normal movements in Parkinson's disease, essential
tremor, and dystonia.
Defibrillation
Defibrillation is a process in which an electrical device
called a defibrillator sends an electric shock to the
heart to stop an arrhythmia resulting in the return of a
productive heart rhythm.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are surgically fixed substitutes for
roots of missing teeth. Embedded in the jawbone, they
act as anchors for a replacement tooth, also known as
a crown, or a full set of replacement teeth.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a procedure to improve the look of
the skin involving the mechanical removal of the
damaged top layer using a high speed rotary wheel.
Dilatation and Curettage
Dilatation and curettage (D & C) is a gynecological
procedure in which the cervix is dilated (expanded)
and the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is scraped
away.
Discharge from the Hospital
Discharge from the hospital is the point at which the
patient leaves the hospital and either returns home or
is transferred to another facility such as one for
rehabilitation or to a nursing home. Discharge
involves the medical instructions that the patient will
need to fully recover.
Disk Removal
Disk removal is one of the most common types of
back surgery. Diskectomy (also called discectomy) is
the removal of an Intervertebral disk, the flexible plate
that connects any two adjacent vertebrae in the spine.
Diuretics
Diuretics are medicines that help reduce the amount
of water in the body.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order
Do not resuscitate (DNR) order is a part of advanced
medical directives allowed by federal law passed in
1991, expanding the notion of patient autonomy to
situations in which they may not be able to make
crucial medical decisions due to incapacitation. It
instructs medical personnel not to perform life-saving
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other
procedures to restart the heart or breathing once they
have ceased.
Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery
Ear, nose, and throat surgery is the the surgical
treatment of diseases, injuries, or deformations of the
ears, nose, throat, head, and neck areas.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography is a diagnostic test that uses
ultrasound waves to produce an image of the heart
muscle and the heart's valves.
Elective Surgery
An elective surgery is a planned, non-emergency
surgical procedure. It may be either medically
required (e.g., cataract surgery), or optional (e.g.,
breast augmentation or implant) surgery.
Electrocardiography
Electrocardiography is a commonly used, noninvasive
procedure for recording electrical changes in the
heart. The record, which is called an
electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), shows the series of
waves that relate to the electrical impulses that occur
during each beat of the heart.
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography, or EEG, is a neurological test
that involves attaching electrodes to the head of a
person to measure and record electrical activity in the
brain over time.
Electrolyte Tests
Electrolytes are positively and negatively charged
molecules called ions, that are found within the body's
cells and extracellular fluids, including blood plasma.
A test for electrolytes includes the measurement of
sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate.
Electrophysiology Study of the Heart
An electrophysiology study (EPS) of the heart is a test
performed to analyze the electrical activity of the
heart. The test uses cardiac catheters and
sophisticated computers to generate
electrocardiogram (EKG) tracings and electrical
measurements with exquisite precision from within
the heart chambers.
Emergency Surgery
Emergency surgery is non-elective surgery performed
when the patient's life or well-being is in direct
jeopardy. Largely performed by surgeons specializing
in emergency medicine, this surgery can be
conducted for many reasons but occurs most often in
urgent or critical cases in response to trauma, cardiac
events, poison episodes, brain injuries, and pediatric
medicine.
Endolymphatic Shunt
An endolymphatic shunt is a surgical procedure in
which a very small silicone tube is placed in the
membranous labyrinth of the inner ear to drain excess
fluid.
Endoscopic Retrograde
Cholangiopancreatography
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
(ERCP) is an imaging technique used to diagnose
diseases of the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and bile
ducts. It combines endoscopy and x-ray imaging.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a
minimally invasive surgical procedure that opens up
sinus air cells and sinus ostia (openings) with an
endoscope.
Endotracheal Intubation
Endotracheal intubation is the placement of a tube
into the trachea (windpipe) in order to maintain an
open airway in patients who are unconscious or
unable to breathe on their own. Oxygen, anesthetics,
or other gaseous medications can be delivered
through the tube.
Endovascular Stent Surgery
Endovascular stent surgery is a minimally invasive
surgical procedure that uses advanced technology
and instrumentation to treat such disorders of the
circulatory system as blockage or damage to blood
vessels caused by the build up of plaque (fatty
deposits, calcium deposits, and scar tissue) in the
arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis (hardening
of the arteries). The surgeon may recommend the
placement of an endovascular stent, a small wire-
mesh tube that surgeons call a scaffold, in an affected
artery.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation
Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a
noninvasive procedure in which a set of inflatable
cuffs (much like blood pressure cuffs) mechanically
compress the blood vessels in the patient's lower
limbs to increase blood flow in the coronary arteries of
the heart. The blood pressure cuffs are wrapped
around the patient's calves, thighs, and buttocks.
Enucleation, Eye
Enucleation is the surgical removal of the eyeball that
leaves the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents
intact.
Epidural Therapy
An epidural is a local (regional) anesthetic delivered
through a catheter (small tube) into a vacant space
outside the spinal cord called the epidural space.
Episiotomy
An episiotomy is a surgical incision made in the
perineum, the area between the vagina and anus.
Episiotomies are done during the second stage of
labor to expand the opening of the vagina to prevent
tearing of the area during the delivery of the baby.
Erythromycins
Erythromycins are medicines that kill bacteria or
prevent their growth.
Esophageal Atresia Repair
Esophageal atresia repair, also known as
tracheoesophageal fistula or TEF repair, is a surgical
procedure performed to correct congenital defects of
the esophagus (the muscular tube that connects the
mouth to the stomach) and the trachea (the windpipe
that carries air into the lungs). Esophageal atresia (EA)
and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) are commonly
found together (EA/TEF), but may also occur
separately.
Esophageal Function Tests
The esophagus is the muscular tube through which
food passes on its way from the mouth to the
stomach. The main function of the esophagus is to
propel food into the stomach.
Esophageal Resection
An esophageal resection is the surgical removal of the
esophagus, nearby lymph nodes, and sometimes a
portion of the stomach. The esophagus is a hollow
muscular tube that passes through the chest from the
mouth to the stomach—a "foodpipe" that carries food
and liquids to the stomach for digestion and nutrition.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
An esophagogastro-duodenoscopy (EGD), which is
also known as an upper endoscopy or upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy, is a diagnostic procedure
that is performed to view the esophagus, stomach,
and duodenum (part of the small intestine). In an EGD,
the doctor uses an endoscope, a flexible, tube-like,
telescopic instrument with a tiny camera mounted at
its tip, to examine images of the upper digestive tract
displayed on a monitor in the examination room.
Essential Surgery
Essential surgery is an operative procedure that is
considered to be vitally necessary for treating a
disease or injury. Postponing or deciding against an
essential procedure may result in a patient's death or
permanent impairment.
Exenteration
Exenteration is a major operation during which all the
contents of a body cavity are removed. Pelvic
exenteration refers to the removal of the pelvic
organs and adjacent structures; orbital exenteration
refers to the removal of the entire eyeball, orbital soft
tissues, and some or all of the eyelids.
Exercise
The Surgeon General of the United States defines
exercise as physical activity that involves planned,
structured, and repetitive bodily movements in order
to improve or maintain physical fitness. As an element
of health, exercise involves both strength training of
the muscles and cardiovascular fitness, with
stretching activities for flexibility.
Extracapsular Cataract Extraction
Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is a category
of eye surgery in which the lens of the eye is removed
while the elastic capsule that covers the lens is left
partially intact to allow implantation of an intraocular
lens (IOL). This approach is contrasted with
intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), an older
procedure in which the surgeon removed the
complete lens within its capsule and left the eye
aphakic (without a lens).
Eye Muscle Surgery
Eye muscle surgery is performed to weaken,
strengthen, or reposition any of the extraocular
muscles (small muscles) located on the surface of the
eye that move the eyeball in all directions.
Face Lift
Face-lift surgery is a cosmetic procedure that involves
removing sagging skin and tightening muscle tissue of
the face and neck to counter signs of aging. The
procedure is also called facialplasty, rhytidoplasty,
and cervicofacial rhytidectomy.
Fasciotomy
Fasciotomy is a surgical procedure that cuts away the
fascia to relieve tension or pressure.
Femoral Hernia Repair
A femoral hernia repair, or herniorraphy is a surgical
procedure performed to reposition tissue that has
come out through a weak point in the abdominal wall
near the groin. In general, a hernia is a protrusion of a
loop or piece of tissue through a weak spot or opening
in the abdominal wall.

Marilane M.Ferrer; BSN, RN

Fetal Surgery

Fetal surgery allows doctors to treat certain

abnormalities of the fetus that might otherwise be
fatal or cause significant problems if permitted to
progress.

Fetoscopy

Fetoscopy is a procedure that utilizes an instrument

called a fetoscope to evaluate or treat the fetus during
pregnancy.

Fibrin Sealants

Fibrin sealants are a type of surgical tissue adhesive

derived from human and animal blood products. The
ingredients in these sealants interact during
application to form a stable clot composed of a blood
protein called fibrin.