What - Ectomy? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gallbladder

A cholecystectomy is most commonly performed for the treatment of cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder caused by gallstones blocking the cystic duct) although they can be performed for other reasons such as cancer.

Laparoscopic, or 'keyhole', surgery is now the preferred option as it does not cut through the abdominal muscles as the traditional 'open' surgery does which leads to less pain, less complications and much shorter hospital stays and recovery time.

Answer: Stomach

A gastrectomy can be either a partial or complete removal of the stomach. They are performed for the treatment of cancer or anything that perforates the stomach wall, the most common being a perforated ulcer.

It used to be used as a treatment for peptic ulcers but these are now treated with antibiotics since the discovery that they are usually caused by a bacteria called helicobacter pylori. This discovery was made by two Australians, pathologist Robin Warren and physician Barry Marshall, who both received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2005 for their work on this.

Answer: Kidney

There are five main reasons to have a kidney removed:
- Renal cell carcinoma (cancer) - modern technology is now working on the partial removal rather than the whole kidney.
- A non-functioning kidney that is causing high blood pressure in the patient.
- Kidneys that are congenitally small if the kidney is swelling and causing pain by nerve compression.
- Any form of trauma that is causing unresolved bleeding and
- Kidney donation for transplant.

Nephrectomies can be performed as open surgery or as a laparoscopic procedure.

Answer: Intestine

A colectomy can consist of the removal of any or all of the large intestine.
The large intestine consists of the ascending colon (right hemicolectomy), transverse colon (transverse colectomy), descending colon (left hemicolectomy), sigmoid colon (sigmoidectomy) and rectum. A total colectomy removes all of the colon except for the rectum. If the rectum needs to be removed as well it is caled a total proctocolectomy.

Indications for a colectomy include cancer of the colon, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel diseases (crohns or ulcerative colitis), infarction (dead bowel tissue), perforation and trauma. Depending on the extent of the disease and the type of colectomy performed the patient can have either an anastomosis (joining of the cut ends of bowel) or a colostomy created.

Answer: Breast

Mastectomies are performed for breast cancer or as a preventative measure for those with a high risk of developing breast cancer. There are three main types:
- Simple mastectomy - this involves the removal of the breast tissue only.
- Modified radical mastectomy - the breast tissue plus an axillary clearance (fatty tissue and lymph nodes from the axilla removed).
- Radical mastectomy - breast tissue, axillary clearance and the pectoral muscles. This is only used now when the cancer is known to have spread to the chest wall.

If caught early enough it is much more common to have a lumpectomy or wide local excision which just takes the cancer tissue and a small amount of surrounding breast tissue.

Answer: Bladder

The most common reason to remove the bladder is for cancer.

After it has been removed the surgeon creates what is called an ileal conduit. A small part of ileum is used to form an ostomy to the skin surface. The ureters are then attached to this piece of ilium and the patient wears a bag like they would with a colostomy. There are also several reconstructive measures which can be performed at a later date to create an internal reservoir for the urine.

Answer: Liver

The liver is a vital organ so a total hepatectomy can only occur in what is known as a 'cadaver case' when organs are being harvested for transplant.

Partial liver resections are nearly always performed because of cancer. The most common of these is metastasis (secondary tumours) from colon cancer which have spread to the liver. They can also be used to treat parasitic liver cysts or intrahepatic gallstones.

Answer: Uterus

The uterus is removed for a number of different reasons:
- Cancers of the cervix or uterus or as a preventative measure for women with a strong family history of these cancers.
- Severe endometriosis when other options are no longer working.
- Postpartum (after birth) for certain conditions which result in excessive, uncontrollable bleeding.
- Many people have a hysterectomy for fibroids but there are other less invasive options available for this.
- Females undergoing transgender surgery.

Women may have a total hysterectomy, which involves the uterine body and cervix, or a partial where the cervical stump is left.

Answer: Ovary

One or both ovaries can be removed in this surgery. If the fallopian tube is removed as well it is called a salpingo-oopherectomy.

They are performed as a treatment for ovarian cysts or cancer, or as a preventative measure to reduce the chance of developing ovarian or breast cancer. High blood levels of oestrogen are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer so women who are already at risk may have an oopherectomy to stop oestrogen production.

Answer: Lung

Cancer is the main reason for a pneumonectomy although it is sometimes performed for bronchiectasis (a chronic lung disease) as a last resort. It used to be used as a treatment for tuberculosis but this is now treated with antibiotics.

A pneumonectomy involves the removal of the entire lung, patients can also have a lobectomy which is just the removal of one lobe.