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

Endometriosis surgery is an operation that diagnoses and treats endometriosis, a condition in which tissue that normally grows inside the uterus grows outside it. Most people have laparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure through small incisions, and go home the same day. Normal routines usually return in about two weeks; open surgery needs several weeks.

Embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that blocks a specific blood vessel by placing a substance inside it through a thin catheter. It is used to stop excessive bleeding, close abnormal vessel connections, and cut off blood supply to tumors. An interventional radiologist performs it, and most people return to daily activities within a week.

An endarterectomy is a surgery that removes fatty, calcified plaque from inside a narrowed or blocked artery to restore blood flow. It treats moderate to severe atherosclerosis, mainly peripheral artery disease in the legs or arms and carotid artery disease in the neck. Results usually last many years, though recovery takes several weeks.

ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is a temporary life-support machine that pumps blood out of the body, adds oxygen, removes carbon dioxide, and returns it, so severely failing lungs, and sometimes the heart, can rest and heal. It is used for conditions like ARDS, pulmonary embolism, and serious heart injury when other treatments have failed.

Emollients are skin care ingredients in creams, lotions and ointments that soften skin and form a protective film on its outer layer. They relieve dryness, itching and scaling from eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and everyday dry skin. They work best on damp skin within three minutes of bathing. Seek urgent care for a spreading, blistering or feverish rash.

An embolectomy is a procedure that removes a blood clot blocking blood flow in a blood vessel. Doctors reach the clot with a thin catheter through a small cut in the neck or groin, or through open surgery. It is often urgent and is used when clot-dissolving medicines cannot be used or have not worked.

Endometrial ablation is a procedure that uses heat, cold or other energy to destroy the uterine lining and reduce heavy menstrual bleeding when medicines fail. It usually takes 3 to 10 minutes without general anesthesia, and most people resume normal activities within 48 hours. It is only for those who do not plan future pregnancy.

Electrolysis is a hair removal treatment in which a trained electrologist places a very fine probe into each hair follicle and sends a small electric current to destroy the hair root. It works on most body areas and on all skin and hair types, usually needs weekly or every-other-week sessions for up to 18 months, and can remove hair permanently.

Ear pinning is an elective plastic surgery that permanently moves the ears closer to the head to reduce protruding ears and correct uneven ears. A plastic surgeon usually performs it under general anesthesia in about two hours, working through cuts usually made behind the ear. Most people recover fully in four to six weeks.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a structured mental health treatment that helps people heal from traumatic or distressing memories. While recalling a memory, you follow guided side-to-side eye movements, sounds or taps. It is best known for treating PTSD, often takes three to 12 sessions, and carries very low risk.

Endocrine surgery is an operation that removes part or all of a diseased hormone-making gland, most often the thyroid, parathyroid or adrenal glands. It treats problems such as thyroid cancer, an overactive gland and adrenal tumors, using small-incision laparoscopic or robotic methods or open surgery; most people stay in hospital at least one night.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment that uses a small electrical stimulus to trigger a brief, controlled seizure while you are asleep under general anesthesia. It treats severe depression, bipolar disorder, catatonia and schizophrenia, often when other treatments have not worked. It is given as a course, usually two to three times a week.

Ear drops are liquid medications placed into the ear canal to treat ear infections, swimmer's ear, pain, itching, inflammation and earwax blockage. Don't use ear drops if you might have a ruptured eardrum unless a provider prescribes a type that is safe for it, and check with a healthcare provider before starting any type.

Dopamine antagonists are medicines that block dopamine receptors so dopamine can't switch on certain cells in your brain and body. Blocking receptors slows the activity those cells control. They mainly treat psychosis-related conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and some treat severe nausea and vomiting. Movement-related side effects are common, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome is rare but life-threatening.

Dissolving lip filler is a quick in-office procedure in which a licensed provider injects hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid, to reverse lip fillers made from it. It treats lumps, unevenness, infection or results you dislike, takes about 10–15 minutes, and shows full results within two weeks. Anyone with a past bee-sting allergy should not receive it.

The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is a quick, noninvasive office test that diagnoses benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). A provider turns your head 45 degrees, lays you back quickly with your head slightly off the table, and watches your eyes. Involuntary eye movements (nystagmus) point to BPPV, which is often treated with the Epley maneuver.

Dopamine agonists are prescription medicines that activate dopamine receptors, so cells respond as if dopamine were present. They are a key treatment for Parkinson's disease and also treat restless legs syndrome and high prolactin. Common side effects include nausea and dizziness; long-term use can cause impulse control problems and sleep attacks. Never stop them suddenly.

Duodenal switch surgery is a weight-loss operation for severe obesity that removes up to 80% of the stomach and reroutes food past most of the small intestine. You eat less and absorb fewer calories. It typically suits a BMI of 40 or higher, or 35 or higher with an obesity-related condition, and requires lifelong supplements.

DPP-4 inhibitors are a class of oral medicines, also called gliptins, used to treat type 2 diabetes. They block the DPP-4 enzyme so incretin hormones last longer, helping the pancreas release insulin after meals and lowering blood sugar. Common examples are sitagliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin and alogliptin, usually taken once a day. They are not for type 1 diabetes.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are prescription medicines that calm an overactive immune system to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and slow joint and bone damage. They treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, and other immune-related conditions. Traditional DMARDs are usually pills, and biologics are infusions or injections. Both take weeks to work and need regular blood tests.

Diuretics are medicines, often called water pills, that help the kidneys move extra salt and water out of the body through urine. They treat high blood pressure, heart failure and fluid buildup (edema). Common side effects include frequent urination and, with some types, low potassium, so providers check kidney function and potassium levels.

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is a procedure that transfers healthy white blood cells called lymphocytes from a stem cell donor into a patient whose blood cancer returned after an allogeneic transplant. The donor T-cells attack leftover cancer cells, a graft-versus-tumor effect. Each infusion takes up to 30 minutes, and the main risk is graft-versus-host disease.

Dry needling is a treatment in which a trained provider inserts thin, solid needles into or near myofascial trigger points to relieve muscle pain and improve movement. No medicine is injected. It is usually one part of a wider pain plan with exercise and stretching. Mild soreness is common, while serious complications are extremely rare.

Double chin surgery is a cosmetic procedure that removes extra fat and loose skin under the chin and along the neck. Options include chin liposuction, a chin tuck, and a neck lift, sometimes combined. Most people go home the same day, return to work within one to two weeks, and should call their surgical team for infection signs.