Medical procedure

A medical procedure is a course of action intended to achieve a result in the delivery of healthcare.

A medical procedure with the intention of determining, measuring, or diagnosing a patient condition or parameter is also called a medical test. Other common kinds of procedures are therapeutic (i.e., intended to treat, cure, or restore function or structure), such as surgical and physical rehabilitation procedures.

Definition

"An activity directed at or performed on an individual with the object of improving health, treating disease or injury, or making a diagnosis."^[1] - International Dictionary of Medicine and Biology
"The act or conduct of diagnosis, treatment, or operation."^[2] - Stedman's Medical Dictionary by Thomas Lathrop Stedman
"A series of steps by which a desired result is accomplished."^[3] - Dorland's Medical Dictionary by William Alexander Newman Dorland
"The sequence of steps to be followed in establishing some course of action."^[4] - Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary

List of medical procedures

Propaedeutic

Auscultation
Medical inspection (body features)
Palpation
Percussion (medicine)
Vital signs measurement, such as blood pressure, body temperature, or pulse (or heart rate)

Diagnostic

Therapeutic

Surgical

Anesthesia

Dissociative anesthesia^{[citation needed]}
General anesthesia
Local anesthesia
- Topical anesthesia (surface)
- Epidural (extradural) block
- Spinal anesthesia (subarachnoid block)
Regional anesthesia

Other

References

^ International Dictionary of Medicine and Biology, Page 2297. ISBN 0-471-01849-X
^ Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th ed. Page 1446. ISBN 0-683-40007-X
^ Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 28th ed. Page 1353. ISBN 0-7216-2859-1
^ Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary, Page 1278. ISBN 0-8016-7225-2

[ex00-1] International Dictionary of Medicine and Biology, Page 2297. ISBN 0-471-01849-X

[ex01-2] Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th ed. Page 1446. ISBN 0-683-40007-X

[ex02-3] Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 28th ed. Page 1353. ISBN 0-7216-2859-1

[ex03-4] Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary, Page 1278. ISBN 0-8016-7225-2

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