Medical dictionary

What is appendicitis?Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, which is a small pouch (two to four inches long) of tissue attached to the colon, located in the lower right abdomen. It is formed at the junction of the small and large intestines.  What are the symptoms of appendicitis?A sudden pain that comes and goes around the middle of the abdomen and then moves to the lower

What is Aquablation? Aquablation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It involves using a high-velocity water jet to remove excess prostate tissue. BPH can lead to urinary symptoms such as difficulty in urination, increased frequency, and incomplete emptying of the bladder.     Aquablation is particularly beneficial

  What is areola reduction surgery? Areola reduction is a cosmetic surgery designed to reshape and resize the areola — this is the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple. Some people feel that their areolae are disproportionately large, and look to a reduction procedure to address the issue. The aim of the surgery is to improve symmetry and decrease the size of the areola, makin

What is an arrhythmia? An arrhythmia is also known as a heart rhythm problem, causing the heart to either beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or to have an irregular pattern. This results when the electrical pulses that coordinate the heartbeats do not work properly. What are the symptoms of arrhythmia? People with an arrhythmia may not experience any symptoms, but a p

What is an arteriovenous fistula?An arteriovenous fistula is when an artery connects directly to a vein. This is an abnormality, as blood usually flows from arteries into smaller capillaries, where the oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood can be distributed to tissues, before passing into the veins. If these capillaries are bypassed by the fistula, the blood supply to nearby tissues is decrea

  What exactly is an arteriovenous malformation? The medical term arteriovenous malformation refers to an atypical tangling of the blood vessels that connect our arteries and veins. They can develop anywhere within the body, but are most commonly found within the brain and spine. What does arteriovenous malformation lead to? Typically, patients who suffer from arteriovenous ma

What is arthritis, and what are the most common types?   Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the membrane that covers the joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, but the most common are: Osteoarthritis: The most common type of arthritis. It usually develops with age, and affects the fingers, knees, and hips. In some cases, it develops in a

What is arthroplasty? The term arthroplasty refers to any surgical procedure to restore the function of a damaged joint, often by replacing them with artificial joints made of chromium, cobalt and titanium, along with high density plastics. The ultimate aim of arthroplasty is to correct deformities, reduce or eliminate pain in the affected areas, and restore mobility. Arthroplasty

What is arthroscopic debridement?Arthroscopic debridement is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove broken and damaged sections of joint cartilage to help improve mobility and reduce pain.It is often used to treat cases of arthritis or instability of the wrist, knee, hip or ankle joints.  What is arthroscopic debridement used to treat?Arthroscopic debridement, also known as arthro