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

TURBT (transurethral resection of bladder tumor) is a procedure that biopsies and removes a bladder tumor through the urethra without an external incision, allowing diagnosis and treatment at once. The tissue is analyzed to determine stage and grade. Full recovery can take up to six weeks. Contact the care team for fever, severe pain, excessive blood or large clots.

Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in which one or two incisions are made in the prostate near the bladder neck to improve urine flow, without removing tissue. The procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and full recovery can take three to five weeks.

Transfemoral carotid artery stenting is a minimally invasive procedure that places a mesh stent in a narrowed carotid artery to improve blood flow and lower stroke risk. A catheter is guided from the groin or arm to the neck. It takes less than two hours. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away for possible stroke signs.

Y-90 treatment, or radioembolization, is a form of internal radiation therapy that uses radioactive Yttrium-90 beads to destroy liver tumors. An interventional radiologist delivers the microscopic beads through a catheter directly to the tumor, where they block its blood supply and release targeted radiation. It suits patients who cannot have surgery and offers faster recovery than external radiation.

Vertebroplasty is a procedure that stabilizes a spinal compression fracture and relieves its pain. Using X-ray guidance, a surgeon inserts a needle into the fractured vertebra and injects medical-grade cement that hardens to hold the bone in place. It is generally considered for severe fracture pain lasting at least two months that has not improved with conservative treatment.

A ventriculostomy is a neurosurgical procedure that removes excess cerebrospinal fluid to relieve pressure on the brain. The surgeon makes a small hole in the skull and passes a catheter or endoscope into a ventricle, either draining fluid outside the body or creating an internal opening so it can be reabsorbed. It is often an emergency operation.

Trabeculectomy is an outpatient glaucoma surgery that creates a small drainage flap in the eye wall to relieve pressure. Fluid drains to a small reservoir, or bleb, under the upper eyelid, where it is reabsorbed, helping prevent optic nerve damage and blindness. With a success rate of 60% to 80% over five years, it is a key fallback option.

A total artificial heart is a mechanical device that replaces both damaged ventricles to restore blood flow throughout the body. It is typically a temporary solution for people with end-stage heart failure awaiting a heart transplant. It connects to the heart's upper chambers and major arteries and is powered by an external air compressor, helping patients stay healthy until transplant.

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) is a spinal surgery that treats chronic lower back pain by joining vertebrae together. Surgeons remove damaged disks that compress spinal nerves and insert bone grafts within a structural cage to promote new bone growth, stabilizing the spine and reducing nerve irritation. Full recovery and complete bone fusion can take up to a year.

The Intracept procedure, also known as basivertebral nerve ablation, is a minimally invasive technique that uses radiofrequency energy to disable the basivertebral nerve, which carries pain signals from damaged vertebral endplates. It is mainly for chronic low back pain lasting at least six months after failed nonsurgical treatments, and often brings significant, long-term pain relief and better mobility.

Synovectomy is a procedure that removes the synovium, the lubricating membrane lining a joint, when it becomes chronically inflamed or damaged. Removing this tissue reduces persistent pain and swelling and helps prevent long-term joint damage. It is commonly done on the knees, hips and shoulders using minimally invasive arthroscopy, and patients typically go home the same day.

A sympathectomy is a surgical procedure that blocks nerve signals controlling automatic functions, most commonly to treat excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis. Through small incisions, the surgeon cuts or clamps the sympathetic nerves driving sweat in areas like the hands or face. It usually takes one to two hours under general anesthesia, and most patients resume normal activities within two weeks.

Strictureplasty is a surgical procedure that treats intestinal strictures, narrowed bowel areas caused by scar tissue or inflammation from inflammatory bowel disease. The surgeon cuts lengthwise through the stricture and sutures it to widen the passage without removing any intestine. This bowel-sparing approach especially helps patients with multiple strictures or at risk of short bowel syndrome.

A splenectomy is a major surgical procedure to remove the spleen, often because of trauma, blood disorders or certain cancers. Most elective cases use minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, with discharge within a few days and return to normal activity over several weeks. Because the spleen is key to immunity, strict vaccination and infection prevention are required afterward.

A skin-sparing mastectomy is surgery that removes all breast tissue, the nipple and areola while keeping the natural skin envelope intact. It is typically recommended for early-stage breast cancer when immediate reconstruction with implants or tissue is planned, giving better cosmetic results than traditional mastectomy. Recovery involves a short hospital stay and several weeks of activity limits.

SI joint fusion is a major surgical procedure that permanently joins the sacrum and ilium, the bones at the base of the spine and the pelvis, to reduce chronic pain and improve stability. Titanium rods are inserted to fuse the bones, usually as an outpatient procedure, with a success rate of over 80%. Recovery takes approximately three to four months.

Sacral nerve stimulation is a neuromodulation therapy that uses an implanted device to regulate signals between the brain and the nerves controlling the pelvic floor muscles. It is mainly used for chronic bowel and bladder dysfunction. A 7-to-14-day trial with an external device precedes permanent implantation, and most patients see a significant reduction in incontinence episodes.

Rotationplasty is a surgical technique used mainly for bone tumors near the knee, in which the lower leg is rotated 180 degrees before reattachment so the ankle works like a knee. This new joint can power a prosthetic limb. It offers better long-term durability and function than above-knee amputation, and many patients return to running and sports.

Reverse shoulder replacement is a surgery that reverses the shoulder's ball and socket, attaching a metal ball to the shoulder blade and a socket to the upper arm bone. This lets the deltoid muscle power the arm, bypassing damaged rotator cuff tendons. It treats severe pain and mobility loss and typically lasts 15 years or longer.

Restorative neurostimulation is a treatment that delivers targeted electrical impulses to the nerves controlling the lumbar multifidus muscles, which are critical for spinal stability. The resulting contractions recondition and strengthen weakened muscle, aiming to treat an underlying cause of mechanical back pain rather than mask symptoms. Studies report long-term reductions in pain and disability and reduced opioid use.

The Ravitch procedure is an open surgery that removes abnormal rib cartilage causing the breastbone to sink inward or protrude outward. During the two-to-three-hour operation, the sternum is repositioned and supported with metal bars or plates. It addresses appearance and relieves chest pain and shortness of breath, with excellent results and a complication rate below 5%.

A radical nephrectomy is the surgical removal of an entire kidney and its surrounding fat layer, the primary treatment for large kidney tumors. It can be done through one large incision or several small ones using laparoscopic or robotic surgery. It takes about three hours under general anesthesia, and full recovery typically comes within three months.

A pulpectomy is a safe and effective dental treatment that saves a severely decayed or injured primary tooth by removing all infected pulp from its root canals and replacing it with a medicated filling. It relieves pain and stops infection from spreading. Saving primary teeth matters because they hold space for permanent teeth and support proper jaw development.

Pyeloplasty is a surgery that removes a blockage or narrowing at the ureteropelvic junction, where the kidney meets the ureter. Restoring urine flow prevents kidney damage, chronic pain and recurrent infections from urine backing up. It is commonly performed on infants born with obstructions and on adults with symptoms, typically with full recovery in three to four weeks.