What is enteroenterostomy? Braun enterostomy is a type of anastomosis done following a major surgery like pancreaticoduodenectomy (removal of pancreas and a part of the intestine). Enteroenterostomy is an anastomosis (connection) between one part of the small bowel to another (jejunum or ileum). The entire small intestine is around 20 feet long and is divided...
What is peritoneal lavage? Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is used in unstable patients who have suffered severe physical trauma. Peritoneal lavage is a bedside procedure for evaluating bleeding in the abdominal cavity or a ruptured organ. In this procedure, a needle connected to a catheter, a tube-like structure, is inserted into your abdominal cavity. It is...
What is cholangioscopy? SpyGlass cholangioscopy is a recently developed technique for the visualization of the bile ducts. Cholangioscopy is a procedure in which a flexible tube, called an endoscope, allows the doctor to visualize the inside of the bile ducts. It is used to treat related medical conditions, such as removal of bile duct stones. ...
What is an exploratory laparotomy? An exploratory laparotomy involves opening the abdominal cavity to see the extent of damage inside, remove any leaking gastric contents and fix injuries. This is often done in trauma emergencies, but also for some bowel cancers, depending on their progression. An exploratory laparotomy is an open surgical procedure for visual...
Ulcerative colitis facts The cause of ulcerative colitis is believed to be somehow related to abnormal immunologic reactions of the body to the bacteria normally found in the colon. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammation of the large intestine (colon). The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown. Intermittent rectal bleeding, crampy abdominal pain, and diarrhea often...
Jaundice definition and facts Readers Comments 6 Share Your Story Picture of Jaundice of the Face and Eyes Courtesy of the CDC Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and of the white of the eyes caused by elevated levels of the chemical bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia). The term jaundice is...
What is Nissen’s fundoplication? The surgery may take around three hours, after which a patient may take a few more hours to recover from anesthesia. A Nissen fundoplication is a surgical procedure that treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly known as acid reflux disease or hiatus hernia. The surgery is named after the surgeon who first performed it, Dr. Rudolph...
What is an esophageal manometry? Esophageal manometry uses pressure sensors to test the function of the muscles in the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the throat and the stomach. The esophagus moves the food down to the stomach with wave-like contractions initiated by swallowing. This process is known as peristalsis. A...
What are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC)? Readers Comments 7 Share Your Story Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative (UC) cause abdominal pain. Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, or UC, are types of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), but they are not the same disease. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory process with no known...
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) definition and facts Nausea can quickly lead to vomiting in some cases. Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a disorder that causes recurrent episodes of nausea, vomiting, and tiredness (lethargy) most often in children but may occur in all age groups. Cyclic vomiting syndrome is generally considered to be a variant of migraines...