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

R-CHOP is a chemotherapy regimen that treats non-Hodgkin lymphoma with five drugs: rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone. It attacks fast-growing cancer cells while helping the immune system identify and destroy them. Usually given in six cycles over 18 weeks, it has high success rates in achieving complete remission in various B-cell lymphomas.

Rapid sequence intubation is an emergency procedure that inserts a breathing tube into the windpipe as quickly and safely as possible. A sedative and a paralytic agent are given together to induce sleep and relax muscles, preventing coughing or vomiting. It is used in urgent situations with high risk of aspiration or respiratory failure, reliably maintaining oxygen delivery.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is an elective outpatient surgery that replaces the eye's natural lens with a permanent artificial intraocular lens to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. The 15-to-30-minute procedure especially benefits adults over 40 who want less reliance on glasses. It has a 95% satisfaction rate and also prevents future cataracts.

Rectal prolapse surgery is a procedure that repairs a condition in which the rectum slides into or through the anal opening. In adults, surgery is the only definitive treatment. It can be performed through the abdomen, often laparoscopically or robotically, or through the perineum. Securing the rectum relieves pressure and pain and helps restore normal bowel control.

Pulmonary toilet is a comprehensive approach to airway clearance that uses physical exercises and medical procedures to remove excess mucus from the lungs. It is essential for people whose respiratory conditions hinder natural coughing, helping prevent respiratory failure and atelectasis. Techniques include deep breathing, chest percussion, incentive spirometers and airway clearance vests, all improving oxygen exchange.

Pyloroplasty is a surgery that widens the pyloric valve between the stomach and small intestine to improve gastric emptying. It is used when the pylorus is blocked or malfunctioning from severe peptic ulcer disease, gastroparesis or pyloric stenosis, and often after vagotomy. Restoring flow reduces chronic nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and improves nutrition.

Pursed-lip breathing is a controlled breathing technique that slows breathing and keeps the airways open longer. You inhale slowly through the nose and exhale gently through pursed lips, as if whistling. This releases trapped air, relieves shortness of breath and reduces the work of breathing, making daily activities and exercise easier for people with respiratory conditions.

Radial artery and saphenous vein harvesting is the surgical removal of a healthy blood vessel to use as a graft in heart bypass surgery. The radial artery comes from the forearm and the saphenous vein from the leg, and the graft restores blood flow to the heart. It is usually done endoscopically, with smaller incisions and less pain.

Proning is a medical procedure that moves a patient from lying on their back to lying on their stomach to raise blood oxygen in severe respiratory conditions such as ARDS and pneumonia. Ventilated patients are typically proned for 12 to 18 hours per session. It requires careful team coordination and is proven to reduce mortality in critically ill patients.

Proton therapy is a specialized radiation treatment in which a cyclotron sends high-energy protons toward a tumor. Its main advantage is precision: the beam stops at the tumor instead of passing through the body, limiting radiation to healthy tissue. This helps protect areas such as the brain and spinal cord and suits tumors near critical organs and some childhood cancers.

A polypectomy is a medical procedure that removes polyps, abnormal growths on the inner lining of organs or body cavities. Most polyps are benign, but some can be precancerous or cancerous, so removal helps prevent disease. It is usually done endoscopically under sedation, using forceps or a wire snare, and most patients return to normal activities within a few days.

An intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) device is a medical tool of inflatable calf sleeves that prevents blood clots. Inflating and deflating every 20 to 60 seconds, it supports circulation in patients temporarily immobile from surgery, stroke or illness. This reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, offering a safe, drug-free protection during recovery.

Postural drainage is a form of chest physiotherapy that uses specific body positions and gravity to clear mucus from the lungs. Tilting lung segments toward the central airways helps trapped secretions move so they can be coughed out. It is often combined with percussion and vibration and can ease breathing for people with conditions like cystic fibrosis or COPD.

A pneumonectomy is a major surgical procedure that removes either the entire right or left lung. It is most often performed for lung cancer when a tumor cannot be removed by taking only part of the lung. It can be life-saving but carries a high risk of complications, and recovery takes several months as the body adjusts to one lung.

Plasmapheresis is a medical process that separates plasma, the liquid portion of the blood, from blood cells and platelets. In plasma exchange, unhealthy plasma is removed and replaced with donor plasma or albumin, filtering out abnormal antibodies and proteins. The procedure takes several hours and is considered safe and effective for conditions such as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis.

Phototherapy is a medical treatment that uses ultraviolet light to treat skin conditions by reducing inflammation and slowing rapid cell growth. Types include UVB for surface conditions and UVA for deeper layers. It is also a standard, safe treatment for newborn jaundice using blue light. Most patients improve after six to eight sessions, though a full course requires more.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors are medications that block phosphodiesterase enzymes, allowing blood vessels to relax and widen, which improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure and reduces inflammation. They are FDA-approved to treat over a dozen conditions, ranging from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to erectile dysfunction and psoriasis.

Pharyngoplasty is a surgery that reshapes the soft palate and pharynx. For velopharyngeal insufficiency, it narrows the throat opening so less air escapes through the nose during speech, reducing hypernasality. For sleep apnea, it expands the airway to improve breathing. It is done under general anesthesia, usually with a short hospital stay and possibly speech therapy afterward. sleep apnea

A pessary is a device inserted into the vagina to support pelvic organs such as the uterus, bladder and rectum, used to treat pelvic organ prolapse or stress incontinence. It reduces vaginal fullness and urine leakage. Many people choose it to avoid surgery. Fitting may take two or three attempts, and regular follow-up visits are needed.

Perineal urethrostomy is a surgery that creates a new opening for urination in the perineum, the area between the scrotum and anus, rerouting the urethra past the penis tip. It is typically recommended for men with severe or recurrent urethral strictures that other methods cannot correct. Studies report success rates of about 50% to 95% without further corrective surgery.

Pericardiocentesis is a procedure that removes excess fluid from around the heart using a needle placed into the pericardium with imaging guidance, usually ultrasound. It takes about 10 to 20 minutes and can be done as emergency treatment or as a diagnostic test. Success rates are higher than 90%, and complication risk is lowest when imaging is used.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a surgery for kidney stones too large to pass on their own. A urologist makes a small incision in the back and uses a nephroscope to remove the stone. It is the usual choice for stones of 2 centimeters or more, succeeds in about 75% to 98% of cases and heals faster than open surgery.

Penis enlargement surgery refers to procedures aimed at increasing the size or improving the appearance of the penis, most commonly cutting the suspensory ligament to add visible length or injecting fat or fillers to add girth. Most patients seek it because of personal perception or anxiety. The high risk of complications, including infection and erectile dysfunction, requires realistic expectations.

Pediatric occupational therapy helps children develop the skills needed for daily living, learning and social interaction. It focuses on fine motor coordination, cognitive abilities, self-care and sensory processing to help children reach developmental milestones. Therapists work with children who have developmental delays or conditions like autism, using individualized, play-based activities for tasks such as writing and feeding.