| laser trabeculoplasty | An operation for glaucoma in which laser energy is applied to trabecular meshwork.a procedure in which a laser (usually argon) is used to create small openings in the trabecular network of the eye. This improves the flow of the aqueous humor and relieves pressure owed to open-angle glaucoma, although by what precise mechanism is not known. LTP has proven effective with only certain types of glaucoma (especially capsular and pigmentary glaucomas), and is sometimes used in conjunction with laser iridotomy. Investigations into laser treatments of open-angle glaucoma began in the early 1970s, but not until the late 1980s was LTP adopted as a standard treatment for the condition, with a 2-year success rate of over 70% (dropping to 50% after 5 years). LTP lessens chances of postoperative infection and haemorrhaging, and can be performed on an outpatient basis. LTP joins other laser techniques that have radically altered eye surgery since their advent. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lithotripsy, laser | Fragmentation of calculi, notably urinary or biliary, by laser. It is usually performed with an endoscopically guided pulsed tunable dye laser, a combination of a pulsed laser and a dye laser usually referred to as a pulsed dye laser. It is both safe and effective when extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is infeasible or unsuccessful. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acupuncture therapy | Treatment of disease by inserting needles along specific pathways or meridians. The placement varies with the disease being treated. Heat or moxibustion and acupressure may be used in conjunction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adjuvant therapy | <oncology, pharmacology> Treatment that is added to increase the effectiveness of a primary treatment. In cancer, adjuvant treatment usually refers to chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or radiation therapy after surgery to increase the likelihood of killing all cancer cells. (14 May 1997) |
| alternative therapy | A term given to nonconventional therapy usually given by persons who do not have a medical qualification. (16 Dec 1997) |
| analytic therapy | Short term for psychoanalytic therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Antibody Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy | <pharmacology> A method for targeting a drug to a specific tissue, in which the targeting agent and the drug are administered separately. The drug is designed to be inactive (a prodrug) until it is converted by an enzyme, which is the targeting agent. The enzyme is coupled to an antibody that directs it to the tissue of interest. When the enzyme arrives at the tissue, the prodrug is activated only at that site, sparing other tissues from potentially toxic side effects. Acronym: ADEPT (14 Nov 1997) |
| anticoagulant therapy | The use of anticoagulant drugs to reduce or prevent intravascular or intracardiac clotting. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antisense therapy | Use of antisense DNA for the inhibition of translation of a specific gene product for therapeutic purposes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| art therapy | The use of art as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of neurological, mental, or behavioural disorders. (12 Dec 1998) |
| autoserum therapy | Therapy with serum obtained from the patient's own blood. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aversion therapy | <psychology> A form of behaviour therapy that pairs an unpleasant stimulus with undesirable behaviour(s) so that the patient learns to avoid the latter. See: aversive training. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aversive therapy | <psychology> A treatment that suppresses undesirable behaviour by simultaneously exposing the subject to unpleasant consequences. (12 Dec 1998) |
| behaviour therapy | The application of modern theories of learning and conditioning in the treatment of behaviour disorders. (12 Dec 1998) |
| biological therapy | <oncology> Treatment with substances that can stimulate the immune system to fight disease more effectively. Synonym: immunotherapy. (16 Dec 1997) |