Epiplopexy is a medical procedure that involves the surgical fixation of a segment of the large intestine, called the epiploic appendage, to the abdominal wall. The spelling of epiplopexy is pronounced as /ˌɛpɪˈplɒpɛksi/ (EH-pi-PLO-pex-ee). The word is a combination of the Greek prefix epi, meaning on, and the Latin plexus, referring to the network of veins. Basically, the word means "fixation of the epiploic appendix," with epiploic referring to the fatty pouches that line the colon of animals.
Epiplopexy refers to a surgical procedure in which the omentum, a fold of connective tissue in the abdomen, is sutured or fixed to another structure in the body. The omentum, also known as the greater omentum, is a double-layered sheet of fatty tissue that hangs down from the stomach and covers the abdominal organs. It plays a role in storing and providing protection to the abdominal organs.
During an epiplopexy, the omentum is surgically attached to another organ or tissue in order to provide additional support or reinforcement. This procedure is often performed to repair or address certain medical conditions that may require stabilization or hernia repairs. The omentum can be sutured to the abdominal wall, diaphragm, or other structures present in the abdomen.
Epiplopexy is commonly used in cases where there is a weakness or defect in the abdominal wall, such as in the case of a hernia or incisional hernia. By attaching the omentum to the weakened area, it can provide additional strength and support to prevent the hernia from recurring or becoming worse.
Overall, epiplopexy is a surgical technique that involves fixing the omentum to another structure in the body to provide reinforcement, stabilization, or hernia repair. This procedure helps to enhance the structural integrity of the abdominal region and prevent complications associated with hernias or other abdominal wall defects.
Suture of the great omentum to the parietal peritoneum as a means of removing ascitic fluid, in cirrhosis of the liver, by establishing a collateral circulation; Talma's operation.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word epiplopexy is derived from the Greek roots epi meaning upon, plopos meaning omentum (a fold of membrane in the abdomen), and eksis meaning to fix or to attach. The -exy suffix is used to indicate a surgical procedure of fixing or attaching. Therefore, epiplopexy literally translates to fixation of the omentum.