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

Thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery is a procedure that repairs a bulge in the chest section of the aorta to lower the risk of a life-threatening rupture. Surgeons use either open repair, which replaces the weak section with a synthetic graft, or TEVAR, a minimally invasive stent graft placed through the groin. Surgery may be recommended above 5.5 centimeters.

Topical antibiotics are antibacterial medicines applied to the skin, eyes, or ears to kill bacteria or stop them from multiplying at the infection site. They come as ointments, creams, gels, eye drops, and ear drops, and they treat only bacterial infections. Finish the full course, and seek emergency care for signs of spreading infection or sepsis.

Scaling and root planing is a deep dental cleaning that removes plaque, tartar and bacteria from above and below the gumline and smooths the tooth roots. It is the usual first, nonsurgical treatment for mild to moderate gum disease, takes one to two hours under local numbing, and most people return to normal routines the same day.

A tooth extraction is a procedure in which a dentist or oral surgeon removes a tooth from its socket. It is recommended when severe decay, advanced gum disease, a fracture, an impacted tooth, crowding or injury leaves a tooth beyond repair. Most people resume routine activities within 48 to 72 hours, while the jawbone takes several weeks to heal.

Toe joint replacement is surgery that removes a damaged toe joint, most often the big toe joint, and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. Surgeons consider it when arthritis, hallux rigidus, or injury causes lasting pain despite nonsurgical care. It aims to relieve pain while keeping the toe movable.

A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the two tonsils at the back of the throat, usually done under general anesthesia as a same-day procedure lasting about 20 to 30 minutes. It mainly treats sleep-related breathing problems such as sleep apnea and frequent tonsillitis. Most people recover in about two weeks; call a provider for any bleeding or breathing trouble.

TNF inhibitors are biologic medicines that block tumor necrosis factor alpha, a protein that drives chronic inflammation. They treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and uveitis. You take them by self-injection under the skin or by IV infusion. Because they weaken immune defenses, they raise infection risk.

Tommy John surgery is a reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), the ligament on the inside of the elbow that helps you throw. A surgeon rebuilds the damaged ligament with a tendon graft or, in some cases, an internal brace. Full recovery usually takes about a year or more, and most athletes return to play.

A thyroidectomy is surgery to remove all (total) or part (partial) of the thyroid gland, the butterfly-shaped organ in the neck. It treats thyroid cancer, suspicious nodules, goiters that press on the windpipe or food pipe, and an overactive thyroid. It is done under general anesthesia, and full recovery usually takes two to three weeks.

Therapeutic phlebotomy is a treatment that removes blood, usually about one pint per session, to lower a dangerously high red blood cell count or too much stored iron. It is mainly used for polycythemia vera and hereditary hemochromatosis. A session feels much like giving blood, lasts 15 minutes to an hour, and blood tests guide how often it repeats.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a long-term treatment that uses manufactured testosterone to raise low levels in men with male hypogonadism, a medical condition affecting the testicles, pituitary gland or hypothalamus. It can improve sex drive, energy, mood and bone density, but it does not cure the cause and needs regular blood tests.

A thymectomy is surgery to remove the thymus gland and any thymic tumor from the upper chest. It mainly treats myasthenia gravis and thymic tumors such as thymoma. Surgeons use open or minimally invasive approaches. Pain is usually mild and short-lived, but myasthenia gravis benefits can take a year or more to appear.

Tenotomy is a procedure that treats a painful or damaged tendon by dividing or releasing it. A provider either uses a needle through the skin, often guided by ultrasound, or makes small incisions to cut or remove part of the tendon. Tenotomy is usually offered after rest, physical therapy, NSAIDs, and steroid injections haven't relieved symptoms.

Thrombolytics are emergency clot-busting drugs that break down fibrin, the protein holding a blood clot together, to restore blood flow. Doctors use them for stroke, heart attack and pulmonary embolism, given by IV or catheter, ideally within 4.5 hours of stroke symptoms starting. Bleeding is the main risk, so call emergency services at the first warning signs.

Thrombolytic therapy is a treatment that uses clot-dissolving medicines, given through an IV line or a catheter, to restore blood flow. It is used for heart attack, ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and peripheral artery disease. In emergencies, it works best when started within two hours of symptoms. The main risk is internal bleeding.

A teeth retainer is a custom-made device worn over the teeth to hold them in their correct position after braces or clear aligners. Removable types are made of wire or plastic, while fixed types are bonded to the front upper or lower teeth. Most people wear one full-time for at least four to six months, then nightly for life.

Braces are orthodontic devices that use mild, constant pressure to move teeth into their proper positions over time. They correct crooked, crowded or gapped teeth and bite problems called malocclusion. Options include metal, ceramic, lingual and self-ligating braces, plus clear aligners. Treatment averages about two years, and everyone needs a retainer afterward.

The Tdap vaccine is a shot that helps protect against three bacterial infections: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). It is recommended for children 7 and older, preteens, adults and during every pregnancy, with a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years. Most side effects are mild, such as a sore arm, and pass within days.

An oxygen tank is a medical device that stores supplemental oxygen for people with a lung condition or trouble breathing. The three main types are compressed oxygen, liquid oxygen, and oxygen concentrators. A prescription is required, and tanks must stay at least 10 feet from flames, smoking, and heat sources.

Targeted therapy is a cancer treatment that aims at the genetic changes, or mutations, that turn healthy cells into cancer cells, while trying to spare healthy cells. It is used most often for breast, lung and prostate cancer, is given as a pill, shot or IV, and can cause side effects such as diarrhea, rash and high blood pressure.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a narrowed aortic valve without open-heart surgery. A doctor threads a thin tube through an artery, usually in the groin, and places a new valve inside the old one. It treats aortic stenosis, takes about one to two hours, and most people go home within a day.

Orthokeratology (ortho-k) is a vision treatment that uses rigid gas permeable contact lenses worn overnight to gently flatten and reshape the cornea, so you can see clearly during the day without glasses or contacts. It mainly treats nearsightedness, can slow fast-worsening myopia in children, and requires nightly wear because the effect fades. Eye infection is the main risk.

An oxygen concentrator is a prescribed medical device that pulls in room air, filters out nitrogen, and delivers 90% to 95% pure oxygen through a nasal cannula or mask. It helps people with lung or heart conditions breathe easier. Stationary models plug into the wall; portable ones run on batteries. Keep it at least 10 feet from flames and heat.

Tamoxifen is a daily hormone therapy, taken as a pill or liquid, that blocks estrogen in breast tissue. It treats hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, lowers the chance of cancer returning or appearing in the other breast, and can help prevent breast cancer in high-risk people. Treatment usually lasts 5 to 10 years.