-ectomy, -ectome, -ectomize

Excision of an arytenoid cartilage (a reference to specific muscles of the larynx), usually in bilateral vocal fold paralysis, to improve breathing.

Removal of the astragalus, or the talus (the ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle).

A procedure for opening up an artery by removing the plaque (atheroma) produced by the build-up of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the inner lining of the artery from atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Atherectomy is done most often in major arteries; such as, the coronary arteries within the heart muscle and the carotid and vertebral arteries leading up to the head and brain which have experienced the occlusive effects of atherosclerosis.

Atherectomy can be done by various means, including a conventional surgical incision to open up the vessel or a catheter inserted into the artery the same way as in angioplasty.

The catheter may have a laser that vaporizes the plaque, a rotating shaver (a "burr" device) on the end of the catheter, or a dissectional device that shaves off the plaque.

Balloon angioplasty or stenting may then be done after the atherectomy.

In the US, atherectomy is also called the "Rotorooter" procedure, named after a company that reams out drainage pipes.

The complete destruction of a kidney by a disease process.

The almost complete disappearance of the spleen through progressive fibrosis and shrinkage; such as, that which may occur in sickle cell anemia.

A permanent peripheral arterial dilatation resulting from the destruction of sympathetic nerve functions by an endogenous process; such as, the neuropathy that accompanies diabetes mellitus.

Excision of all or part of an eyelid.

Excision of some of the fibers of the orbicularis muscle, together with overlying skin, to relieve pressure of the eyelid on the cornea in blepharospasm.

Bunion removal which is the surgical treatment of a deformity of the bones of the big toe and foot (bunion).

A bunion is a painful deformity of the bones and joint between the foot and the big toe. Long-term irritation (chronic inflammation) caused by poorly fitting and/or high-heeled shoes, arthritis, or heredity causes the joint to thicken and enlarge.

Such thickening and enlargement causes the big toe to angle in toward and over the second toe, the foot bone (metatarsal) to angle out toward the other foot, and the skin to thicken (callus formation).

Surgical removal of a bunion is usually done while the patient is under general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) and rarely requires a hospital stay.

An incision is made along the bones of the big toe into the foot. The deformed joint and bones are repaired, and the bones are stabilized with a pin and/or cast.

Surgical removal of a bursa.

A bursa is a tissue space (fibrous sac) that is lined with synovial membrane (joint tissue) and contains a small quantity of synovial fluid (joint fluid).

Bursas are found in between the tendons and the bones, skin, and bone and muscles. They function to facilitate fluid movement.

The surgical removal of a renal calix (a cuplike extension of the renal pelvis that encloses the papilla of a renal pyramid; urine from the papillary duct is emptied into it).

Surgery on the skull to correct sagittal craniosynostosis.

Craniosynostosis is a congenital (present at birth) defect that causes one or more sutures on a baby's head to close earlier than normal. Sutures are connections that separate individual skull bones. The early closing of a suture leads to an abnormally shaped head.

The main treatment for craniosynostosis is surgery which is done while the baby is still an infant.

There are different types of craniosynostosis; for example, sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly) is the most common type. It affects the main (sagittal) suture on the very top of the head.

The early closing forces the head to grow long and narrow, instead of wide. Babies with this type of craniosynostosis tend to have a broad forehead. It is more common in boys than with girls.

The goals of surgery are: (1) Relieve any pressure on the brain. (2) Make sure there is enough room in the skull to allow the brain to grow properly. (3) Improve the appearance of the child's head.

The operation may be either an extended strip craniectomy or a subtotal calvarectomy.

1. An excision of a canthus (the angle formed by the meeting of the upper and lower eyelids at either side of the eye).
2. Excision of a palpebral (eyelid or cover) canthus.

1. Removal of a capsule; such as, around a breast implant.
2. The excision of a capsule; especially, a joint capsule or the capsule of a lens, a joint, or a kidney; also called, decapsulation.

1. The excision or surgical removal of a cancerous growth.
2. A surgical procedure in which all or part of an epithelial malignant tumor, or carcinoma, is removed.