Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a treatment for epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder that stems from disturbance of the brain’s nerve and that causes recurrent, unprovoked, and unpredictable seizures. The treatment involves implanting a device in the chest that sends electrical pulses to...
Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a minimally invasive approach to the traditional open radical nephrectomy. Both procedures are done to remove an entire kidney or, sometimes, a cancerous portion of a kidney. However, in a laparoscopic nephrectomy, rather than making one large incision, surgeons make...
Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is performed to surgically remove plaque deposits (e.g., cholesterol, calcium, and fat) from the carotid arteries, which are located on each side of the neck and supply blood to the brain. Over time, plaque buildup can cause atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries...
Breast ultrasound, also called breast sonography, is a noninvasive procedure that uses reflected sound waves to view and produce a picture of the breast’s internal structures. A handheld device called a transducer is passed over the breast, converting sound waves into electrical impulses....
Virtual colonoscopy or computed tomography (CT) colonography is a technique that uses a CT scanner and computer software to look at the bowel or colon to detect polyps. Polyps are small growths in the colon that may become cancerous if not removed. The technique offers an alternative to...
Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is an incisionless surgical approach used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition caused when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus malfunctions. TIF is less invasive than Nissen fundoplication, the surgery that is...
Gynecologic laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows surgeons to make a few tiny incisions rather than a large incision through the skin and underlying muscles. In pelvic laparoscopic surgery, the entry ports for surgical instruments are in the groin area and...
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure involving the implantation of electrodes into deep nuclei of the brain. A surgically implanted, battery-operated device delivers electrical stimulation to targeted areas in the brain to treat medical conditions. These electrical impulses can...
Vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive procedure used to locate and diagnose disorders of the vascular system. Ultrasonography is an imaging technique in which structures of the body are visualized by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic waves directed into the tissues. Echoes are...
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver cancer is a procedure that uses heat to destroy cancer cells. Physicians use imaging techniques such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI to place a needle electrode into cancerous tissue in the liver. An electrical current from a radiofrequency generator then passes...
