Dunn, Stephen Edgar

Definitions

Breast surgery may involve any of a variety of surgical procedures carried out on the breasts of women (generally) and men. These procedures may include removing a sample of tissue from a breasttumour (abnormal growth), as well as removing malignant (cancerous) tumours. Surgery may also include breast reconstruction following a mastectomy (breast removal) for breast cancer. The surgeons who perform this type of breast reconstruction may be breast oncology (cancer) surgeons or plastic surgeons. (Surgeons trained in both specialities are known as oncoplastic surgeons.) Some breast surgeons also do cosmetic breast surgery, including enlargement and reduction.moreEndoscopy involves examining the inside of the body with an endoscope, a lighted, flexible instrument that has a small camera on the tip. There are many types of endoscopes, and endoscopy, namedaccording to the organs or areas they are used to examine (e.g. arthroscopy examines joints; bronchoscopy examines the lungs; cystoscopy examines the bladder and urethra; laparoscopy may examine the ovaries, appendix or other abdominal organs; colonoscopy examines the bowel). An endoscope is passed through a natural body opening (e.g. mouth) or a small incision. Small instruments can be inserted through an endoscope and used to take samples of tissues for analysis (biopsy), to remove material (e.g. removing polyps during a colonoscopy), or to carry out a surgical procedure.moreGastroscopy is an examination of the inside of the oesophagus (throat), stomach and duodenum (the first section of small intestine). It is performed by using a thin, flexible fibre-optic instrument(gastroscope) that is passed through the mouth to check for any damage to the lining of the oesophagus or stomach, and for any ulcers in the stomach or duodenum. The procedure is painless and is usually done under a sedative.moreGeneral surgery takes its name from general medicine, and is a surgical specialty focusing on the torso and abdominal organs. This may include the intestines comprising the oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. It also often deals with diseases and disorders involving the skin and breasts.moreHaemorrhoid surgery is the removal of haemorrhoids, swollen veins that occur around the anus, either inside or outside of the skin around the rectum. Removal (haemorrhoidectomy) may be done with astandard scalpel or with an ultrasonic scalpel to cut away haemorrhoids. In another method tissue from further in the anus is used to close the wound with surgical staples after the haemorrhoids are removed. The procedure may be done with a sedative and local or spinal anaesthetic, or under general anaesthetic. An anal fissure is a small split or tear in the moist tissue (mucosa) lining the anus. In sever cases, if the fissures do not go away with home care methods, treatment may involve Botox injections into muscle in the anus (the anal sphincter) and minor surgery to relax the anal muscle.moreLaparoscopic surgery, also known as ‘keyhole surgery’, is carried out with the aid of a camera inserted into the abdomen or pelvis. A small incision is made in the abdominal wall through which alaparoscope, a flexible lighted tube with a camera attached, is inserted so that structures within the abdomen and pelvis can be examined. The abdominal cavity is made more visible by distending it with an absorbable gas, usually carbon dioxide. A number of major and minor surgeries may be carried out. A variety of tubes and long, narrow instruments can be inserted through the same incision in the skin, or via other small incisions, facilitating a number of procedures without the need for a large surgical incision. The surgeon uses these instruments to manipulate, cut and sew tissue. A number of procedures can be performed laparoscopically, including gallbladder removal (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), oesophageal surgery (laparoscopic fundoplication), colon surgery (laparoscopic colectomy), and surgery on the stomach and spleen. Most patients receive general anaesthetic during the procedure.moreThe thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adam’s apple, wrapped around the trachea (windpipe). It produces hormones which help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure,body temperature and metabolism (the rate at which food is converted into energy). Thyroid disorders can include an overactive gland, called hyperthyroidism, or an underactive gland, called hypothyroidism. Both can result in an enlarged thyroid gland. Sometimes surgery is required to remove the thyroid gland. A thyroid nodule is a small swelling or lump in the thyroid gland. They are usually examined with imaging such as ultrasound or MRI, and a fine-needle aspiration biopsy, a relatively painless procedure to take tissue fluid samples from the nodule. Thyroid surgery may be required when: the biopsy indicates the nodule is cancerous; the nodules are getting bigger; or the trachea or oesophagus is compressed because the thyroid is very large. Thyroid surgery involves removing part or all of the thyroid gland, under general anaesthesia. Usually, the lobe of the thyroid gland containing the nodule lump is removed. An analysis of tissue will determine if the rest of the thyroid gland should be removed, during the same surgery. (Alternatively, surgery may be done at a later date.)moreA varicose vein is a swollen, twisted vein, usually near the skin surface in the leg. They can be unsightly and cause tired, heavy or painful limbs. In severe cases, the veins can rupture, or opensores (varicose ulcers) can form on the skin. Women are most frequently affected, and other factors include a family history of varicose veins and advancing age. Sometimes, absence or weakness of valves in veins, which prevent the backward flow of blood away from the heart, may be a cause. In other cases, weaknesses in the vein walls cause blood to pool. Less commonly, varicose veins are due to diseases such as phlebitis (inflammation of the veins). Treatment is not always necessary for varicose veins, although severe cases, especially those involving ulcers, require treatment. Often, the varicose veins are removed to let blood flow through the remaining healthy veins. This can be done by surgery (vein stripping) or by a non-invasive procedure called sclerotherapy. In this procedure, saline (salt water) or a chemical solution is injected into the varicose vein. The vein will harden and then disappear.moreA hernia is a sac or pouch of tissue formed by the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity. The sac protrudes through a hole or weak area in the fascia, the strong layer of the abdominal wallthat surrounds the muscle. Hernias occur in different places: femoral hernia (upper thigh); hiatial hernia (upper part of stomach); incisional hernia (can occur through a scar if you have had abdominal surgery); inguinal hernia (groin); umbilical hernia (around the navel). Surgery under general anaesthetic is used to permanently fix a hernia. The weakened abdominal wall tissue (fascia) is secured and any holes are closed. An umbilical hernia that fails to heal on its own by the time a child is five years old may be repaired. Emergency surgery for hernias is sometimes needed. In addition to open surgery, some hernias can be repaired using a laparoscope (flexible lighted tube tipped with a camera), which is less invasive.more