Common terms in surgical nursing


1/ -OTOMIES
Temporary openings or cuts made in structures or tissues.Mostly are closed again by sutures,but may be allowed to heal by second intention. For instance:
laparotomy (abdomen); thoracotomy (thorax); cystotomy (bladder); urethrotomy (urethra); enterotomy (intestines); gastrotomy (stomach); arthrotomy (joint); rhinotomy (nose); osteotomy (bone); myotomy (muscle); tenotomy (tendon); craniotomy (skull); phlebotomy (vein).

there is also a terminology of approaches, similar to that in radiographic positioning:
midline; paramedian (parallel to the midline); parapreputial (parallel to the prepuce); pararectal (alongside the rectum); paracostal (parallel to the ribs).

2/ -OSTOMIES
Permanent / semi permanent openings
Urethrostomy (urethra); tracheostomy (trachea); gastrostomy (stomach); pharyngostomy (pharynx).

3/ FENESTRATIONS
Making a window to relieve pressure.
Cervical or lumbar discs

4/ -ECTOMIES
Removal of tissue or structure, or a portion thereof
enterectomy (intestines); gastrectomy (stomach); liver or lung lobectomy; orchidectomy (testis); ovariohysterectomy (ovaries and uterus); vasectomy (vas deferens); neurectomy (nerve).


5/ - ITISES
Inflammation of particular tissues.
Uveitis (anterior chamber of the eye); neuritis (nerve); otitis (ear); phlebitis (vein); arteritis (artery); endocarditis ( inner lining of the heart) (NB ENDOCARDIOSIS is the disorder seen in older dogs in which murmurs develop due to valve deformity); encephalitis and meningitis (brain); pharyngitis (pharynx); pleuritis=pleurisy (pleura); pneumonitis or pneumonia (lungs); pericarditis (pericardium); peritonitis (peritoneum); nephritis (kidney) spondylitis (intervertebral discs).

6/ -CENTESIS
cysto-; arthro-; pericardio-; thoraco-

7/ PROCEDURES AND INSTRUMENTS
bronchoscopy; proctoscopy; laryngoscopy; all using an endoscope
auroscopy / otoscopy using an otoscope or auroscope
ophthalmoscopy using an ophthalmoscope

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