| AK | above knee; acetate kinase; adenosine kinase; adenylate kinase; artificial kidney |
|---|---|
| ALEC | artificial lung-expanding compound |
| ANN | artificial neural network |
| AP | accessory pathway; accounts payable; acid phosphatase; acinar parenchyma; action potential; active p... |
| APIVR | artificial pacemaker-induced ventricular rhythm |
| surgical diathermy | Electrocoagulation with a high frequency electrocautery, resulting in local tissue destruction; usually used to seal blood vessels and arrest bleeding. Synonym: diathermocoagulation. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| surgical emphysema | Subcutaneous emphysema from air trapped in the tissues by an operation or injury. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical equipment | Nonexpendable apparatus used during surgical procedures. They are differentiated from surgical instruments, usually hand-held and used in the immediate operative field. (12 Dec 1998) |
| surgical erysipelas | Erysipelas caused by infection of the wound following a surgical procedure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical flaps | Tongues of tissue (skin and subcutaneous tissue, sometimes including muscle) cut away from the underlying parts but attached at one end. They retain their own blood supply during transfer to the new site. They are used in plastic surgery for filling a defect in a neighboring region. The concept includes pedicled flaps, rotation flaps, tube flaps, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| surgical instruments | Hand-held tools or implements used by health professionals for the performance of surgical tasks. (12 Dec 1998) |
| surgical ligation | In dentistry, the surgical exposure of an unerupted tooth so that a metal ligature can be placed around its cervix and fastened to an orthodontic appliance to facilitate eruption. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical maggot | A sterilised botfly maggot used in an obsolete therapy of wound debridement and removal of abscessed tissues. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical mesh | Any woven or knit material of open texture used in surgery for the repair, reconstruction, or substitution of tissue. The mesh is usually a synthetic fabric made of various polymers. It is occasionally made of metal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| surgical microscope | <instrument> A binocular microscope used to obtain good visualization of fine structures in the operating field; in the standing type of microscope, a motorised zoom lens system operated by hand or foot controls provides an adjustable working distance; in headborne models, interchangeable oculars provide the magnification needed. Synonym: operating microscope. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical neck of humerus | The narrow portion below the head and tuberosities. Synonym: collum chirurgicum humeri. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical oncology | <study> The study of cancer using surgery, usually to remove cancerous tumours and tissue. (16 Dec 1997) |
| surgical pathology | A field in anatomical pathology concerned with examination of tissues removed from living patients for the purpose of diagnosis of disease and guidance in the care of patients. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surgical procedures, elective | Surgery which could be postponed or not done at all without danger to the patient. Elective surgery includes procedures to correct non-life-threatening medical problems as well as to alleviate conditions causing psychological stress or other potential risk to patients, e.g., cosmetic or contraceptive surgery. (12 Dec 1998) |
| surgical procedures, endoscopic | Surgery performed with the use of an endoscope. Operative techniques may include use of lasers or electrocautery. The procedure is guided via visualization using fibre optics, video and other remote transmission. Advantages are briefer anaesthesia and operative periods, reduced recovery time, shorter hospitalization, and generally less trauma for the patient. (12 Dec 1998) |