Medical procedure

Action to achieve a result in the delivery of healthcare

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

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* "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

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### Propaedeutic

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

### Diagnostic

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* Lab tests
* Biopsy test
* Blood test
* Stool test
* Urinalysis
* Cardiac stress test
* Electrocardiography
* Electrocorticography
* Electroencephalography
* Electromyography
* Electroneuronography
* Electronystagmography
* Electrooculography
* Electroretinography
* Endoluminal capsule monitoring
* Endoscopy
* Colonoscopy
* Colposcopy
* Cystoscopy
* Gastroscopy
* Laparoscopy
* Laryngoscopy
* Ophthalmoscopy
* Otoscopy
* Sigmoidoscopy
* Esophageal motility study
* Evoked potential
* Magnetoencephalography
* Medical imaging
* Angiography
* Aortography
* Cerebral angiography
* Coronary angiography
* Lymphangiography
* Pulmonary angiography
* Ventriculography
* Chest photofluorography
* Computed tomography
* Echocardiography
* Electrical impedance tomography
* Fluoroscopy
* Magnetic resonance imaging
* Diffuse optical imaging
* Diffusion tensor imaging
* Diffusion-weighted imaging
* Functional magnetic resonance imaging
* Positron emission tomography
* Radiography
* Scintillography
* SPECT
* Ultrasonography
* Contrast-enhanced ultrasound
* Gynecologic ultrasonography
* Intravascular ultrasound
* Obstetric ultrasonography
* Thermography
* Virtual colonoscopy
* Neuroimaging
* Posturography

### Therapeutic

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See also: Therapy and List of surgical procedures

* Thrombosis prophylaxis
* Precordial thump
* Politzerization
* Hemodialysis
* Hemofiltration
* Plasmapheresis
* Apheresis
* Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
* Cancer immunotherapy
* Cancer vaccine
* Cervical conization
* Chemotherapy
* Cytoluminescent therapy
* Insulin potentiation therapy
* Low-dose chemotherapy
* Monoclonal antibody therapy
* Photodynamic therapy
* Radiation therapy
* Targeted therapy
* Tracheal intubation
* Unsealed source radiotherapy
* Virtual reality therapy
* Physical therapy/Physiotherapy
* Speech therapy
* Phototerapy
* Hydrotherapy
* Heat therapy
* Shock therapy
* Insulin shock therapy
* Electroconvulsive therapy
* Symptomatic treatment
* Fluid replacement therapy
* Palliative care
* Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
* Oxygen therapy
* Gene therapy
* Enzyme replacement therapy
* Intravenous therapy
* Phage therapy
* Respiratory therapy
* Vision therapy
* Electrotherapy
* Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
* Laser therapy
* Combination therapy
* Occupational therapy
* Immunization
* Vaccination
* Immunosuppressive therapy
* Psychotherapy
* Drug therapy
* Acupuncture
* Antivenom
* Magnetic therapy
* Craniosacral therapy
* Chelation therapy
* Hormonal therapy
* Hormone replacement therapy
* Opiate replacement therapy
* Cell therapy
* Stem cell treatments
* Intubation
* Nebulization
* Inhalation therapy
* Particle therapy
* Proton therapy
* Fluoride therapy
* Cold compression therapy
* Animal-Assisted Therapy
* Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
* Nicotine replacement therapy
* Oral rehydration therapy

### Surgical

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* Ablation
* Amputation
* Biopsy
* Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
* Cryosurgery
* Endoscopic surgery
* Facial rejuvenation
* General surgery
* Hand surgery
* Hemilaminectomy
* Image-guided surgery
* Knee cartilage replacement therapy
* Laminectomy
* Laparoscopic surgery
* Lithotomy
* Lithotriptor
* Lobotomy
* Neovaginoplasty
* Radiosurgery
* Stereotactic surgery
* Vaginoplasty
* Xenotransplantation

### Anesthesia

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* Dissociative anesthesia[citation needed]
* General anesthesia
* Local anesthesia
* Topical anesthesia (surface)
* Epidural (extradural) block
* Spinal anesthesia (subarachnoid block)
* Regional anesthesia

### Other

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* Interventional radiology
* Screening (medicine)

## See also

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* Algorithm (medical)
* Autopsy
* Complication (medicine)
* Consensus (medical)
* Contraindication
* Course (medicine)
* Drug interaction
* Extracorporeal
* Guideline (medical)
* Iatrogenesis
* Invasive (medical)
* List of surgical instruments
* Medical error
* Medical prescription
* Medical test
* Minimally invasive
* Nocebo
* Non-invasive
* Physical examination
* Responsible drug use
* Surgical instruments
* Vital signs

## References

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