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...
Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a minimally invasive approach to the traditional open radical nephrectomy, which removes the entire kidney and any kidney cancer. Rather than making one large incision, surgeons make three or four incisions roughly 1 centimeter long in the abdomen. A small camera is...
Percutaneous transluminal peripheral angioplasty (PTPA) is a revascularization procedure that is used to treat narrowing of the arteries caused by peripheral arterial disease or other conditions. A physician performing PTPA makes a small nick in the skin and inserts a balloon catheter or other...
Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure designed to restore a woman’s breast to its normal shape and size. It’s commonly performed after a patient undergoes a mastectomy following a cancer diagnosis, but it can also be used to repair breasts after a lumpectomy or breast trauma, according...
Diagnostic angiography, which is also referred to as diagnostic arteriology, is an imaging-guided procedure designed to detect cardiovascular disease. A physician performs the procedure by making a small incision in an artery and threading a catheter through the blood vessels, according to the...
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an FDA-approved drug used to treat diseases that feature blood clots. tPA uses an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, which is responsible for clot breakdown. Because of the way it is manufactured, tPA may also be referred to as...
Endoscopic laser foraminoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal procedure in which the surgeon uses an endoscopically guided laser to remove bony extrusions or sequestrations from discs in the spinal column. Removing these bony protrusions alleviates pressure on the nerves and relieves many...
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), often referred to as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is a noninvasive procedure that restores blood flow to the heart tissue and opens blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease. Cardiologists often perform PTCA...
It is estimated that one in every 20 Americans over age 50 has peripheral vascular disease, a condition caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits on arterial walls, according to the National Institutes of Health. These deposits can narrow the arteries, restricting or
blocking blood flow...
Minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty, or total hip replacement, is a relatively routine procedure generally reserved for the older patient population that suffers from pain and decreased mobility due to osteoarthritis. The cartilage covering the joint begins to wear away with age, causing...
