Doctor-Reviewed Health Guides: Conditions, Procedures & Health News

Tubal ligation is a surgery for permanent birth control in which the fallopian tubes are cut, tied, blocked, or sealed so eggs and sperm cannot meet. It is about 99% effective, does not cause menopause or change periods, is hard to reverse, and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are older, first-generation medicines approved to treat major depressive disorder, yet doctors now prescribe them more often for chronic nerve pain, migraine prevention, insomnia and other off-label uses. They raise norepinephrine and serotonin levels in the brain. Side effects are common, and a suspected overdose needs emergency care because it can be fatal.

Tube feeding (enteral nutrition) is a way to deliver liquid formula, fluids and sometimes medicine through a soft, flexible tube that enters through the nose or the belly wall and ends in the stomach or small intestine. It supports people who cannot safely chew or swallow, and a tube that falls out needs emergency care.

Triptans are medicines that stop migraine attacks once they begin by acting on serotonin receptors that control blood vessel width and pain signals in the brain. They are a first-line migraine treatment, come as pills, nasal sprays and injections, and rarely cause serious heart or stroke-related effects that need emergency care.

Tricuspid valve surgery is a procedure that repairs or replaces the heart valve between the right atrium and right ventricle when it leaks (regurgitation) or narrows (stenosis). Repair is usually preferred. Surgeons may use open-heart surgery, small-incision, robotic or catheter-based methods. Recovery takes several months after open-heart surgery and a few weeks after transcatheter procedures.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a noninvasive pain relief therapy that sends a low-voltage electrical current through pads on the skin to block pain signals or boost the body's natural painkillers. It is used for back pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and nerve pain, and it is not safe for people with pacemakers, epilepsy or pregnancy.

A transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is an imaging test that uses a small, finger-sized probe placed in the rectum to send sound waves that create live pictures of the prostate. It helps check an abnormal rectal exam or high PSA, guides prostate biopsies and some treatments, takes under 30 minutes, and uses no radiation.

Thrombectomy is a procedure that removes a blood clot from an artery or vein to restore blood flow to the brain, lungs, heart, limbs, intestines or kidneys. It is done through open surgery or a thin catheter, often as an emergency within hours. Prompt treatment can greatly lower the risk of death or permanent disability.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive, pain-free treatment that uses magnetic pulses from a coil on the scalp to change activity in specific brain areas. It is FDA-cleared for major depression, OCD, migraine with aura and short-term smoking cessation, needs no anesthesia, and usually causes only mild headache or scalp discomfort; seizures are very rare.

A transforaminal epidural steroid injection is a procedure that delivers a numbing medicine and a corticosteroid into the epidural space through the foramen, the opening where a spinal nerve leaves the spine. Guided by live X-ray, it eases radiating back, neck, arm or leg pain from conditions such as sciatica and herniated disks. Report fever or worsening pain promptly.

A thread lift is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in which a plastic surgeon places medical-grade threads under the skin to lift sagging skin on the face or neck and stimulate collagen production. The procedure takes about an hour under local anesthesia, recovery is quick, and results are subtle and last one to three years.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgery that removes excess prostate tissue through the urethra, without skin incisions, to relieve urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate (BPE/BPH). A thin resectoscope trims tissue with an electric current or laser under anesthesia. It takes about 90 minutes, and most people recover fully in four to six weeks.

Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a narrowed or leaky pulmonary valve using a catheter passed through a vein in the groin or neck, without opening the chest. It mostly helps people born with congenital heart disease, takes two to three hours, and usually needs only one night in hospital.

A thoracotomy is open chest surgery in which a surgeon makes a cut between two ribs to reach the heart, lungs, aorta, esophagus, diaphragm or trachea. It is done under general anesthesia, usually takes two to four hours, and is often used for lung cancer. Most people stay about a week in hospital.

Transcendental Meditation is a meditation technique in which you silently repeat a mantra, a sound chosen for you by a certified teacher, to quiet your mind and reach a state of restful alertness. You practice twice a day, starting with about 10 minutes. Possible benefits include lower blood pressure, less stress and better sleep.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive procedure that removes rectal tumors, polyps and other rectal problems using microsurgical tools passed through the anus, with no abdominal incision. It is done under general anesthesia, usually needs a one- to two-day hospital stay, and carries fewer complications and less pain than open surgery.

Thoracentesis is a procedure in which a provider uses a needle to remove fluid from the pleural space between the lungs and the chest wall. It helps find the cause of a pleural effusion and relieves pressure that makes breathing hard. It is usually done as an outpatient procedure with local numbing and imaging guidance.

A thigh lift (thighplasty) is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess skin and fat from the thighs to reshape them and make them smoother. People often consider it after losing a lot of weight. It can also ease painful rubbing between the thighs. Most people return to daily activities within six weeks, and final results show after six months.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a clot-dissolving IV medicine used to treat ischemic strokes by restoring blood flow to the brain. It works best within three hours of symptom onset and is sometimes given up to four and a half hours. A CT scan must first rule out brain bleeding, and serious bleeding is its main risk.

A thoracostomy is a procedure in which a provider makes a small cut between two ribs and places a chest tube to drain air or fluid from the pleural space around the lung. It treats collapsed lung, pleural effusion, empyema, hemothorax and chylothorax, uses local numbing medicine, and usually takes about 30 minutes.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs, or glitazones) are oral tablets for type 2 diabetes that help the body use insulin more efficiently by activating PPAR-gamma receptors in fat, muscle and liver cells. Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone are the two types, taken once daily. Common effects are swelling and weight gain; they can raise the risk of heart failure, fractures and liver damage.

A tourniquet is a device that applies enough pressure around an arm or leg to stop blood flow past that point. Outside hospitals, it is used right away for life-threatening limb bleeding, or when firm direct pressure cannot control severe bleeding. Place it on bare skin at least 2 inches above the wound, note the time, and call emergency services.

Thoracic surgery is any operation on organs inside the chest, including the heart, lungs, esophagus, trachea, diaphragm, chest wall and the space between the lungs. Surgeons use open incisions or minimally invasive tools to treat conditions such as lung cancer, coronary artery disease and hiatal hernia. Hospital stays usually last 3 to 10 days.

Total body irradiation (TBI) is a type of radiation therapy that gives small doses of radiation to the entire body to prepare for a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. It destroys cancer cells in hard-to-reach areas, makes room in the bone marrow, and lowers the chance of transplant rejection. Sessions are painless and last up to 60 minutes.