symphysiotomy
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌsɪm.fɪˈzaɪ.ə.t̬ə.mi/
- Archaic
- During difficult childbirth, the doctor may recommend a symphysiotomy to widen the pelvis for delivery.
Examples
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The Walsh report found that 95% of the symphysiotomies were done in emergency circumstances.
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Symphysiotomy was mostly used in Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s at a time when contraception was illegal.
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There might be very rare times when a symphysiotomy is needed.
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So how then were women given symphysiotomy, ultimately followed by a section, and still manage to leave with a live child?
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Symphysiotomy is not mentioned, and I certainly had never heard of it before.
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I wrote in prior posts that symphysiotomy is not chainsaw surgery and that it is still practiced.
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An estimated 1,500 symphysiotomies were carried out in Irish hospitals during the period.
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The National Maternity Hospital revived symphysiotomy in 1944, and the surgery quickly spread to the Coombe.
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The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has offered its unreserved sympathy and support to women who suffered complications following symphysiotomy procedures after giving birth.
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Symphysiotomy was used (in the Irish cases) to prevent uterine scarring that made more than 4 C-sections dangerous.
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Surface Forms
Morphology
symphysiotomy = symphysis (opaque) = symphysi + otomy
Specialised medical formation combining the anatomical base 'symphysis' with the surgical suffix '-otomy', which is not transparent to average B1 learners.
Etymology
Symphysiotomy comes from the Greek parts symphysis meaning 'joined together' and -otomy meaning 'cutting'. So a symphysiotomy literally means 'cutting a join', which fits the operation where doctors cut the joint at the front of the pelvis to make more space for the baby during childbirth.