| colorectal | <anatomy> Pertaining to or affecting the colon and rectum. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| colorectal cancer | <oncology> A malignancy that arises from the lining of either the colon or the rectum. Cancers of the large intestine are the second most common form of cancer found in males and females. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, occult blood in stools, bowel obstruction and weight loss. Treatment is based largely on the extent of cancer penetration into the intestinal wall. Surgical cures are possible if the malignancy is confined to the intestine. Risk can be reduced when following a diet which is low in fat and high in fibre. (27 Sep 1997) |
| colorectal surgeon | <specialist> A specialist that is expert in the surgical care of colorectal disease (for example haemorrhoids, cancer). (11 Mar 1998) |
| ambulatory surgery | <surgery> Operative procedures performed on patients who are admitted to and discharged from a hospital on the same day. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aseptic surgery | The performance of an operation with sterilised hands, instruments, etc., and utilizing precautions against the introduction of infectious microorganisms from without. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiovascular surgery | The use of surgery to fix disorders of the heartand/or blood vessels. (09 Oct 1997) |
| radical surgery | Surgery designed to remove all possible diseased tissue, for example, all possible tumour tissue. (12 Dec 1998) |
| major surgery | See: major operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vascular surgery | A branch of medicine dealing with the use of surgery to diagnose/treat diseases of the blood vessels. (09 Oct 1997) |
| general surgery | A surgical specialty that involves largely the surgical management of diseases of the bowel, gallbladder, stomach and other digestive organs. (27 Sep 1997) |
| reconstructive surgery | The surgical specialty or procedure concerned with the restoration, construction, reconstruction, or improvement in the shape and appearance of body structures that are missing, defective, damaged, or misshapen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| video-assisted thoracic surgery | A less morbid alternative to "open" thoracotomy that employs cameras, optic systems, percutaneous stapling devices, and assorted endoscopic graspers, retractors, and forceps. Also called video thoracoscopic surgery, it can be selectively applied to various pulmonary, pleural, and pericardial lesions. (05 Mar 2000) |
| perineal surgery | An operation to remove the prostate gland through an incision made between the scrotum and the anus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| micro-disc surgery | This describes a newer form of orthopaedic back surgery involving the insertion of a special hardware device through a small incision in the lower back. This form of surgery is indicated for those with intractable (unresponsive to medical therapy alone) disk disease of the lower spine (typically lumbar). The prolapsed disk is suction out of the back via a small tube inserted through the incision. (27 Sep 1997) |
| microscopically controlled surgery | Minimally invasive surgery, operative procedure performed in a manner derived to result in the smallest possible incision or no incision at all; includes laparoscopic, laparoscopically assisted, thoracoscopic, and endoscopic surgical procedures. Synonym: Mohs' chemosurgery. (05 Mar 2000) |