Medical dictionary

What is aortic valve replacement (minimally-invasive)? Minimally-invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) uses a much smaller incision compared to traditional aortic valve replacement methods, which means patients recover much faster and the scar post-surgery is noticeably smaller too. MIAVR is used to treat patients with narrow or leaking valves who often complain of chest pains or shortness

What is apexification?   Apexification is a procedure performed by dentists to close an open tooth root, which may happen if the tooth root has not formed completely, for example. This is mainly due to childhood trauma or tooth decay, which forms a pulp necrosis (pulpitis).   This procedure is called apexification because it refers to the part of the tooth known as

What is the Apgar score? The Apgar score is a quick way of measuring the health of a newborn, in the first minute after birth and in the fifth minute. It was developed by Virginia Apgar, an anaesthesiologist in the US, in 1952 as a means of quantifying the effect of anaesthesia administered during birth on babies. The test is usually carried out by a consultant paediatrician.  Virgi

What is aphasia? Aphasia is a speech impairment caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls language. It can cause issues for reading, writing, and oral expression. There are four different kind of aphasia: Expressive aphasia: the patient knows what they want to say but has issues when they try to write it or express it. Receptive aphasia: the patient can read or listen to i

What is aphonia?Aphonia is the term used to describe a loss of voice. When someone loses their voice, it may be partial (hoarseness) or complete (the patient can just about whisper). Aphonia can come on gradually or suddenly, depending on the cause.  What causes aphonia?The main causes of voice loss are:Diseases of the respiratory system: a cold, laryngitis, cough, tonsillitis, nodule

What is an apicoectomy? An apicoectomy is also known as root end surgery, or a root resection, root-end filling, or retrograde root canal treatment. An apicoectomy is an endodontic procedure which involves removing the tip of the root, creating a root end cavity, and filling it with a special root-end filling material. Why is it done? An apicoectomy is usually performed when conventio

What is aplastic anaemia? Aplastic anaemia is a rare and serious condition in which the body does not produce enough red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen molecules from the lungs to all around the body, delivering them to cells to produce the energy they need. They carry this oxygen using a protein called haemoglobin. The term “anaemia&rdq

What is being analysed? ApoE genotyping is a genetic test that examines variations in the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene. Specifically, it identifies three common alleles: ε2, ε3, and ε4. These alleles influence an individual's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.   What does the result mean? The results of ApoE genotyping provide information a

What is analysed? Apolipoprotein A (Apo A) levels are analysed to assess the concentration of this protein in the bloodstream. What does the result mean? The result indicates the level of Apo A in the blood, which is a key component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Higher levels of Apo A are associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Why undergo the analysis? The ana