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

Corrective jaw surgery is a major procedure performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons to correct skeletal irregularities and align the jaws and teeth. It improves facial symmetry, resolves chewing or speaking difficulties and treats conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea. The jawbones are repositioned and secured with plates and screws, often requiring several months of recovery and ongoing orthodontic care.

A condom catheter is an external device that collects urine in men with incontinence. It consists of a sheath that fits over the penis, connected by tubing to a drainage bag usually worn on the leg. Changed daily, it is a non-invasive alternative to internal catheters, with a lower risk of urethral damage and, in many studies, fewer urinary infections.

A Convergent procedure is a hybrid medical treatment for atrial fibrillation that uses two distinct methods: minimally invasive surgery and catheter ablation. A surgeon first creates scars on the outside of the heart, followed by an electrophysiologist who treats the inside. This combined approach is particularly effective for persistent Afib, offering higher success rates than traditional methods.

Chemical castration is a treatment that uses drugs to stop the body from producing or using sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. It is primarily used for prostate and breast cancers that depend on these hormones to grow. Given by injection, implant or pill, it aims to shrink or slow tumors, and its effects are usually reversible once treatment stops.

Cervical ripening is the physiological or medical process that transforms the cervix from a firm, closed state to a soft, thin and dilated state in preparation for vaginal delivery. Providers assess cervical readiness using the Bishop score and may recommend prostaglandins, Foley balloons or other procedures to start ripening if the body does not begin naturally.

Cancer surgery is a medical intervention performed by a surgical oncologist to remove part or all of a cancerous tumor or tissue. It can diagnose cancer through biopsies, cure localized disease, ease symptoms by debulking tumors and prevent cancer in high-risk patients. Approaches range from open surgery to minimally invasive procedures, chosen by cancer type, stage and overall health.

A BTT shunt is a temporary surgical connection used to treat infants born with heart conditions that limit blood oxygen levels. Surgeons attach a synthetic graft between the subclavian artery and the pulmonary artery so more blood reaches the lungs. It serves as a critical bridge, supporting the baby's growth until a more comprehensive heart repair later in infancy.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a medical procedure that diagnoses lung conditions by collecting fluid from the lower respiratory tract. A thin tube called a bronchoscope is guided into the lungs, where sterile saline is released and suctioned back. The fluid is analyzed in a lab for signs of cancer, bleeding, or bacterial, viral or fungal infections.

Bone marrow concentrate (BMC) is a solution made from your own bone marrow that is rich in stem cells, growth factors and anti-inflammatory proteins. A provider harvests liquid bone marrow, concentrates it and injects it into an injured joint, tendon or muscle to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation, particularly in osteoarthritis and sports-related injuries.

Arthrodesis is a permanent surgical fusion of two bones within a joint. The surgeon removes damaged cartilage and secures the bones with metal fasteners so they grow together. It is most often done on the ankles, spine and wrists to eliminate severe chronic pain from arthritis or injury when other treatments have failed, providing stability.

An ankle fusion is a permanent surgery for severe ankle pain in which the tibia, fibula and talus are joined with screws or plates. It is most commonly performed for end-stage arthritis. The procedure reduces the ankle's range of motion, but most patients notice a dramatic reduction in pain and return to routine activities after roughly three months or more.

Anal fistula surgery involves identifying the fistula tract and closing it with a method suited to its complexity. Surgeons prioritize protecting the anal sphincter muscles to maintain bowel control. Common procedures include fistulotomy for simple tracts and seton placement or LIFT for more complex cases. Most surgeries are outpatient, with recovery focused on wound healing and preventing infection.

Amputation is the surgical removal of all or part of an arm, leg, hand or foot when it can no longer be saved or endangers the rest of the body. Common causes include diabetes complications, peripheral artery disease (PAD), severe trauma and life-threatening infections. Recovery is a multi-stage process involving wound care, physical therapy and psychological support.

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is an outpatient interventional radiology procedure that locates the source of excess aldosterone. A radiologist inserts a catheter through the groin to collect blood from both adrenal veins. Comparing the samples shows whether the imbalance comes from one gland or both, which guides whether surgery or medication is best for conditions like primary aldosteronism.

An adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) machine is a device that treats central and complex sleep apnea. It monitors breathing and automatically adjusts air pressure, increasing it to prompt a breath when breathing pauses or slows and reducing it when breathing is steady. This on-demand delivery makes it more comfortable and effective than standard CPAP or BiPAP for certain disorders.

3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) is a planning process for delivering external beam radiation with high precision. Software maps a tumor's exact size and shape from CT, MRI or PET images, and beams are shaped to its boundaries to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. It treats many solid tumors, alone or before or after surgery.