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Glite Dictionary
valvulotomy

valvulotomy

9.9
A cut a surgeon makes to open a narrowed heart valve so blood flows better
  • noun
  • /ˌvæl.vjuˈlɑː.tə.mi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : valvulotomía
  • The surgeon performed a valvulotomy to treat the patient's narrowed mitral valve.

Examples

  • The doctor performed a valvulotomy to improve blood flow.

  • Following the valvulotomy, the patient's symptoms of heart failure significantly improved.

  • Advancements in minimally invasive techniques have made valvulotomy safer for elderly patients.

  • After the valvulotomy, the patient felt much better.

  • The surgeon performed a valvulotomy to treat the patient's narrowed mitral valve.

  • Following the valvulotomy, the patient's symptoms of heart failure significantly improved.

  • Advancements in minimally invasive techniques have made valvulotomy safer for elderly patients.

Synonyms

heart surgery
vsvalvulotomy
  • Specialized
36 3.1

An operation on the heart to fix a disease or problem

is a specific operation that cuts a narrowed valve to ease blood flow
valvotomy
vsvalvulotomy
  • Specialized
9.9

A doctor cuts a narrowed heart valve to improve blood flow

is the same procedure but uses a different form or spelling

Surface Forms

valvulotomy singular
valvulotomies plural

Morphology

valvulotomy = valve (semi-transparent) = valvulo + tomy

The combining form 'valvulo-' corresponds to 'valve' and '-tomy' means cutting/incision, but both are medical combining forms that are technical and may be unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

The word valvulotomy breaks into two parts: valvulo- from Latin valva, meaning 'door' or 'valve', and -tomy from a Greek root meaning 'cut', as in tracheotomy. So a valvulotomy is literally a 'cutting of a valve', which is why it means a surgical cut into a narrowed heart valve to help blood flow.