Pancreatectomy is the surgical removal of the pancreas. The word is spelled as /pæŋkriˈtɛktəmi/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The word is composed of the roots "pancreas" which refers to an organ in the body and "-ectomy" which means surgical removal of a body part. The spelling of the word may seem confusing due to its long length and the presence of silent letters, but understanding its roots and IPA transcription can help in its proper pronunciation and usage.
Pancreatectomy is a medical procedure involving the partial or complete surgical removal of the pancreas. The pancreas is an essential organ located in the abdomen, behind the stomach, responsible for producing digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin. Pancreatectomy is performed to treat various conditions and diseases affecting the pancreas, including pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, and rare tumors.
Partial pancreatectomy involves removing only a portion of the pancreas, while total pancreatectomy involves the complete removal of the organ. Depending on the extent of the procedure, the remaining pancreas may still be able to produce enough enzymes and hormones for normal bodily functions.
Pancreatectomy is typically performed under general anesthesia, and the specific surgical technique employed may vary. This can include open surgery, where a large incision is made in the abdomen, or minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon carefully removes the affected portion of the pancreas while minimizing damage to surrounding structures.
After a pancreatectomy, patients will likely experience changes in digestion and may require lifelong treatment with digestive enzyme supplements and insulin therapy. Complications can include infection, bleeding, leakage of digestive fluids, and diabetes. However, advances in surgical techniques have improved the outcomes of pancreatectomy and increased survival rates.
Overall, pancreatectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing part or all of the pancreas in order to treat certain conditions or diseases affecting the organ.
Excision of the pancreas.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "pancreatectomy" is derived from the combination of three roots:
1. "Pancreas" comes from the Greek word "pankreas", which means "all flesh". It is a compound of "pan", meaning "all", and "kreas", meaning "flesh".
2. "Ectomy" is a suffix in medical terminology that refers to the surgical removal or excision of a specified organ or tissue. It is derived from the Greek word "ektomē", meaning "cutting out" or "excision".
Putting the roots together: "pancreatectomy" is a term that originated from Greek elements, with "pancreas" referring to the organ being operated on, and "ectomy" indicating the removal of that organ through surgical means. Therefore, "pancreatectomy" literally means "excision or removal of the pancreas".