Other Medical and Surgical Procedures

Ablation Therapy

Ablation therapy is a type of minimally invasive procedure (no incisions required / small puncture / low to moderate sedation) performed to destroy tumors and other abnormal tissues in the body. It does so via a catheter through the use of freezing cold or very hot liquids. Some of these include: Microwave ablation (uses thermal heat energy via electromagnetic waves), radiofrequency ablation (uses thermal heat energy via radiofrequency waves), thermal balloon ablation (balloon inserted into the body cavity and filled with fluid heated to 190 degrees Fahrenheit), laser ablation (uses laser energy), and cryoblation (uses freezing cold via liquid nitrogen or argon).

The procedure will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. Check with your doctor for further details.

Aortic Valve Balloon Valvotomy

A balloon valvotomy or valvuloplasty, or is a procedure performed to repair an affected heart valve due to its narrowed opening. This procedure will improve the blood flow through the aortic valve and may relieve symptoms associated with aortic stenosis, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or passing out (syncope).

The procedure will take place at the hospital. Check with your doctor for further details.

Arteriovenous Malformation Surgery

Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) are defects in the vascular system, consisting of tangles of abnormal blood vessels (veins, arteries, and capillaries). If left untreated, AVMs can enlarge and rupture, causing hemorrhage. Preventing the rupture or re-rupture of vascular malformations is one of the major reasons that early treatment is recommended for AVMs. There are several types of AVM surgery options:

  • Radiosurgery: This procedure uses precisely focused beams of radiation at the site of the AVM. After 6 months to 2 years, the vessels gradually close off and are replaced by scar tissue.
  • Endovascular Embolization: This procedure involves the insertion of a catheter (thin, hollow tube) through an artery in your groin. The catheter is guided up to the site of the AVM, where it delivers a liquid “glue" that embolizes (blocks) blood flow to the malformed vessels, thus restoring normal circulation.
  • Open-Surgery: This procedure is performed to completely remove the tangled blood vessels. Once the surgeon has access to the AVM, the abnormal arteries and veins are removed. This redirects blood flow to normal vessels, preventing the AVM from leaking or bursting.

The procedure will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. Check with your doctor for further details.

Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant

A stem cell transplant is a type of cancer treatment used to infuse healthy blood-forming stem cells into your body to replace those damaged by the very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. You might need a bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow stops working and does not produce enough healthy blood cells. Check with your doctor for further details.

Bullectomy

A bullectomy is a type of surgery that may be used to treat certain people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have lung damage caused by emphysema. There are different types of emphysema, and one type mainly affects the upper part of the lungs. As this kind of emphysema progresses, it can destroy the walls of the millions of tiny air sacs in the lungs. These air sacs are called alveoli. When the walls of hundreds of these alveoli are destroyed, it causes the tiny sacs to combine into larger air sacs called bullae.

During a bullectomy, your surgeon will remove bullae from your lungs. Check with your doctor for further details.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer but is also used to ease cancer symptoms. Chemotherapy is used to treat many types of cancer. For some people, chemotherapy may be the only treatment you receive. But most often, you will have chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, such immunotherapy or radiation therapy. The types of treatment that you need depends on the type of cancer you have, if it has spread and where, and if you have other health problems. Check with your doctor for further details.

Cold Stimulation Test

A cold stimulation test can be used to trigger Raynaud disease’s symptoms. During this test, a small device that measures perfusion is taped to your fingers. Your hands are then exposed to cold, usually put into ice water for a brief moment. Your hands are then removed from the cold, and the device measures if the cold affected perfusion.

The procedure will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The procedure takes only a few minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.

Double Switch Procedure

A double switch operation is used to correct congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (or L-TGA). The timing of when the double switch operation is performed depends on the patient’s anatomy. Typically, procedures leading to the double switch can start as an infant, although in some instances are not done until later in childhood. The double switch is made to reroute the blood flow in the arteries (arterial switch) and the atria (atrial switch). Consult with your doctor for further details.

Edrophonium Test

Edrophonium test is a diagnostic test used to evaluate myasthenia gravis, which is a neuromuscular condition characterized by muscle weakness. The test involves an injection of Tensilon (edrophonium), after which your muscle strength is evaluated to determine whether your weakness is caused by myasthenia gravis or not.

This test is done intravenously (IV). To start, your doctor will inject 2 milligrams Tensilon IV at first. After the injection, your doctor will evaluate for about 2 minutes and look for any potential signs or symptoms. If no symptoms, your doctor will proceed to inject 10 more milligrams of Tensilon. After the whole dosage has been administered, your doctor will ask you to describe any symptoms. If none, your doctor may also ask you to perform certain repetitive physical tasks to assess your muscle strength.

Edrophonium test will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The test will take 10 to 15 minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.

Endobronchial Valve Therapy

An endobronchial valve is an implantable medical device (small, one-way valve) which is implanted in the pulmonary system to treat one of several lung conditions. Check with your doctor for further details.

Esophageal Dilation

Esophageal dilation is a procedure that allows your doctor to dilate, or stretch, a narrowed area of your esophagus. The most common cause of the narrowing is an esophageal stricture. Patients with a narrowed portion of the esophagus often have trouble swallowing; food feels like it is “stuck” in the chest region, causing discomfort or pain.

During the procedure, your doctor may administer local anesthesia to numb your throat. You’ll also likely be given medicine to relax you. A tube called an endoscope (scope) is used. This is a narrow tube with a tiny light and camera at the end. The scope is inserted through your mouth and into your esophagus. It allows your doctor to see the inside of your esophagus. Next, special tiny tools are carefully guided through your mouth and down into the esophagus. They widen the stricture and are then removed. Different types of instruments are used. The type used depends on the size and cause of the stricture.

The procedure will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The test takes 10 to 15 minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.

Esophageal Manometry Test

Esophageal manometry is a test used to measure the function of the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve that prevents reflux, or backward flow, of gastric acid into the esophagus) and the muscles of the esophagus. This test will tell your doctor if your esophagus is able to move food to your stomach normally. It can also identify whether or not an individual has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or achalasia.

During the procedure, you doctor will apply a topical anesthetic (pain-relieving medication) to your nose to make the passage of the tube more comfortable. A high-resolution manometry catheter (a small, flexible tube) is passed through your nose, down your esophagus and into your stomach. You may feel some discomfort, but most patients quickly adjust to the tube’s presence. After the tube is inserted, you will be asked to lie on your left side. The end of the tube exiting your nose is connected to a machine that records the pressure that is placed on the tube. Sensors at various locations on the tubing sense the strength of the lower esophageal sphincter and muscles of the esophagus. During the test, you will be asked to swallow a small amount of water to evaluate how well the sphincter and muscles are working. The sensors also measure the strength and coordination of the contractions (spasms) in the esophagus as you swallow.

The test will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The test takes 10 to 15 minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.

Esophageal Stent

A stent is a tiny tube that your doctor can insert into a blocked passageway. It helps reinforce and prevents the affected passageway from re-narrowing. The stent restores blood flow or other fluids, depending on where it's placed.

An esophageal stent is placed in your esophagus as a way to keep it open. It is most commonly used to treat esophageal cancer. However, esophageal stents may also be used when there’s narrowing of the esophagus caused by an ulcer or radiation treatment; an abnormal opening between the trachea and esophagus; or a hole in the esophagus.

The procedure will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The procedure takes 1 hour. Check with your doctor for further details.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy

Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a surgical treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). During this procedure, your surgeon will remove the following: Diseased lung, part of the pericardium, (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest). Check with your doctor for further details.

Heart-Lung Transplantation

A heart–lung transplant is performed to replace both heart and lungs in a single operation. Due to a shortage of suitable donors and due to the fact that both heart and lung have to be transplanted together, it is a rare procedure. To learn more about a similar procedure, please visit our heart transplantation page.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is a type of cancer treatment that boosts the body's natural defenses to fight cancer. It uses substances made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function. The types of treatment that you need depends on the type of cancer you have, if it has spread and where, and if you have other health problems. Immunotherapy drugs have been approved to treat many types of cancer. However, immunotherapy is not yet as widely used as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Check with your doctor for further details.

Implantable Hemodynamic Monitor

An implantable hemodynamic monitor (IHM) provides constant measuring of blood pressure inside your veins, heart and arteries. It also measures blood flow and amount of oxygen in the blood. This monitoring is specially warranted for heart failure patients.

Implantable hemodynamic monitors are implanted during a cardiac catheterization procedure. During this procedure, a catheter (thin, hollow tube) is placed in a large vein in your groin and advanced to the heart under X-ray guidance. The monitor is deployed in a branch of a blood vessel feeding the pulmonary artery. Once in place, it remains in the body indefinitely. Readings are then taken on a daily basis in your home by lying down on a specialized pillow that contains an antenna which can retrieve information from the monitor. Readings are sent from your home electronics module to a central monitoring platform that your doctor or nurse can review.

Implanting a hemodynamic monitor will usually take place at the hospital. This procedure will usually take between 1 to 3 hours. Check with your doctor for further details.

Inferior Vena Cava Filter

The inferior vena cava is a large vein in the abdomen that returns blood from the lower half of the body to the heart. Sometimes, blood clots develop in the veins of the leg or pelvis (deep vein thrombosis) and occasionally break up. When this occurs, large pieces of the clot can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). An IVC filter is a small metal device that traps large clot fragments and prevents them from traveling through the vena cava vein to the heart and lungs, where they could cause severe complications such as pain, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath or even death.

IVC filter implantation is done by placing a catheter (thin, hollow tube) in an artery in your groin, and advanced to the inferior vena cava abdomen. The IVC filter is then placed through the catheter and into the vein. Once it is placed in the correct position, the filter is released, allowing it to fully expand and attach itself to the walls of the blood vessel.

Implantation of this device will usually take place at the hospital. The procedure will usually take anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Check with your doctor for further details.

Interrogation of Pacemaker or Defibrillator

Your pacemaker or defibrillator has the ability to communicate through the skin with a programmer (special computer). This “interrogation” starts when your doctor places a wand over your chest where the device is located. When the programmer and the device communicate, valuable information can be obtained from the memory of your device. This will enable your doctor to make any changes to your device’s settings, if needed.

The procedure will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The procedure takes 10 to 20 minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) is a procedure designed to help you breathe easier when your lungs have been damaged by severe COPD. The goal of the surgery is to remove the area of the lung most affected by disease, allowing the remaining lung to function more efficiently, and improve your breathing ability and quality of life. Check with your doctor for further details.

Lymphovenous Anastomosis

Lymphatic fluid surrounds the cells and tissues of the body and not only keeps the cells healthy, but also helps drain away waste products. Lymph vessels transport lymphatic fluid from the limbs through the lymph nodes to larger lymphatic vessels which in turn join to large veins at the bottom of the neck. When the lymphatic system is not working properly, the lymph fluid builds up and causes swelling, leading to the condition known as lymphedema.

In lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) surgery, your doctor connects a lymph vessel in the affected limb to a nearby vein to bypass the damaged area and restore the flow of lymph fluid back to the venous system. Several connections are made, with the number depending on the condition of the lymph vessels. The connections are generally made before the damaged area and are performed using a small cut just below the surface of the skin.

This procedure will usually take place at the hospital. The procedure will usually take anywhere between 3 to 5 hours to complete. Check with your doctor for further details.

Maze Procedure

Maze procedure is a type of open-heart surgery used to treat atrial fibrillation. Typically, your doctor will opt out for the mini-maze procedure. Check with your doctor for further details.

Modified Blalock Taussig Shunt

A Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt is a small tube that connects the arterial circulation to the pulmonary circulation in order to get more blood to the lungs. This is the first in a series of operations required to correct complex congenital heart defects. A BT shunt is a temporary fix, as it is only a certain size, but it allows the baby to grow to better prepare for his or her next operation. BT shunts can be used to treat conditions such as pulmonary atresia, pulmonary stenosis, Tetralogy of Fallot, hypoplastic left heart syndrome and tricuspid atresia.

The procedure will take place at the hospital. Check with your doctor for further details.

Nailfold Capillaroscopy

Nailfold Capillaroscopy (NV) represents the best method to analyze microvascular abnormalities in autoimmune diseases. During this test, your doctor puts a drop of oil at the base of your fingernail. Your doctor then looks at your fingernail under a microscope. If your doctor sees abnormal arteries, it may mean you have Raynaud's disease.

The procedure will take place at an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The procedure takes only a few minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.

Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy may be prescribed for you when you have a condition that causes your blood oxygen levels to be too low. Low blood oxygen may make you feel short of breath, tired, or confused, and can damage your body. Oxygen therapy can be given for a short or long period of time. You can receive oxygen therapy from tubes resting in your nose, a face mask, or a tube placed in your trachea, or windpipe. This treatment increases the amount of oxygen your lungs receive and deliver to your blood.

Oxygen is stored as a gas or liquid in special tanks. Therefore, oxygen therapy can be performed at an outpatient setting, within the hospital, or at home. Check with your doctor for further details.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a type of cancer treatment that uses special drugs, sometimes called photosensitizing agents, along with light to kill cancer cells. The drugs only work after they have been activated or “turned on” by certain kinds of light. PDT is usually done as a single procedure but is sometimes combined with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Check with your doctor for further details.

Pleurectomy

Pleurectomy is a type of surgery in which part of the pleura is removed. This procedure helps to prevent fluid from collecting in the affected area and is used for the treatment of mesothelioma. Check with your doctor for further details.

Pleurx Catheter

Pleurx catheter is the drainage tool used to collect fluid during a pericardiocentesis. Check with your doctor for further details.

Pneumatic Dilation

Pneumatic dilation is a type of procedure used for achalasia. Achalasia is a condition that affects the esophagus by making it hard for foods and liquids to pass into the stomach.

A pneumatic dilation will typically take place within an endoscopy. During the endoscopy, your doctor will introduce a catheter with a deflated balloon (pneumatic dilating balloon) through the mouth and into the stomach. The balloon is centered over the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and inflated with air. If symptoms do not improve adequately with the first dilation, a second or third procedure may be performed at a later date with a larger dilator.

A pneumatic dilation is typically performed in an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.

Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is performed to remove blood clots and scar tissue from the arteries in the lungs. The surgery can potentially cure a condition called chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). With CTEPH, blood clots get trapped within the walls of the arteries and develop scar tissue over time. The blockage leads to high pressures in the arteries eventually leading to right heart failure and damage to the lungs. Check with your doctor for further details.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. At low doses, radiation is used in X-rays to see inside your body, as with X-rays of your teeth or broken bones. At high doses, radiation therapy kills cancer cells or slows their growth by damaging their DNA. The types of treatment that you need depends on the type of cancer you have, if it has spread and where, and if you have other health problems. Radiation therapy can be used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Check with your doctor for further details.

Rastelli Procedure

The Rastelli procedure is the standard surgical treatment for a variety of congenital heart defects, which include: D-Transposition of great arteries (d-TGA), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and pulmonary stenosis. Check with your doctor for further details.

Revascularization

Revascularization is the restoration of blood flow to a body part or organ that has gone without it. Check with your doctor for further details.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of communication problems and speech disorders. These speech disorders can develop in childhood or caused by an injury or illness, such as stroke or brain injury. Check with your doctor for further details.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread. Most types of targeted therapy help treat cancer by interfering with specific proteins that help tumors grow and spread throughout the body. Targeted therapy is usually done as a single procedure but is sometimes combined with surgery, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Check with your doctor for further details.

Thoracentesis

Thoracentesis, similar to pericardiocentesis, is a procedure in which excess fluid is removed from the pericardial cavity. Excess fluid is a condition known as pleural effusion. Check with your doctor for further details.

Tracheostomy

Tracheostomy is a type of surgical procedure which allows your surgeon to make a hole through the front of the neck and into the windpipe (trachea). A tracheostomy tube is placed into the hole to keep it open for breathing. A tracheostomy provides an air passage to help you breathe when the usual route for breathing is somehow blocked or reduced. Check with your doctor for further details.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) is a minimally-invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems in your chest. During a VATS procedure, a tiny camera (thoracoscope) and surgical instruments are inserted into your chest through one or more small incisions in your chest wall. The thoracoscope transmits images of the inside of your chest onto a video monitor, guiding the surgeon in performing the procedure. Check with your doctor for further details.

Voice Evaluation Test (Laryngovideostroboscopy)

A voice evaluation test helps your doctor evaluate how your vocal cords vibrate while you speak or sing. Doing so, it also enables your doctor to identify any lesions, stiffness, paralysis, irregular movements, throat strain, incomplete closure of the vocal cords, or other physical contributors to your voice problem.

During the test, a tiny camera attached to a small tube called an endoscope is inserted through your nose and allows your doctor to see your vocal cords and larynx (voice box). A flashing strobe light simulates slow motion video images of your vocal cords. Once the test is completed, your doctor will review the findings and identify any problems.

The procedure will take place in an outpatient setting or within the hospital. The test will only take a few minutes. Check with your doctor for further details.