Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «S»:
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Spleen removal - child - discharge
Your child's spleen was removed after your child was given general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free).
If your child had open surgery, the surgeon made an incision (cut) in the middle of your child's belly or on the left side of the belly just below the ribs.
If your child had laparoscopic surgery, ...
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Spleen removal - laparoscopic - adults - discharge
Your spleen was removed after you were given general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free).
Your surgeon made 3 to 4 small cuts in your belly. The laparoscope and other medical instruments were inserted through these cuts. Gas was pumped into your belly to expand the area to help your surgeon see better...
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Spleen removal - open - adults - discharge
Your spleen was removed after you were given general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free).
Your surgeon made an incision (cut) in the middle of your belly or on the left side of your belly just below your ribs. If you are being treated for cancer, the surgeon probably also removed the lymph nodes in yo...
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Splenic infarction
Splenic infarction is death of tissue ( necrosis) in the spleen due to a blockage in blood flow.
Causes
Common causes of splenic infarction include blood clots, infections such as endocarditis, and blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia....
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Splenomegaly
Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen beyond its normal size.
Considerations
The spleen is an organ that is a part of the lymph system. It filters the blood and maintains healthy red and white blood cells and platelets.
Because of its wide variety of functions, the spleen may be affected by ...
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Splinter hemorrhages
Splinter hemorrhages are small areas of bleeding (hemorrhage) under the fingernails or toenails.
Considerations
Splinter hemorrhages appear as narrow, red to reddish-brown lines of blood beneath the nails. They run in the direction of nail growth and are named splinter hemorrhages because they look...
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Splinter removal
A splinter is a thin piece of material (like wood, glass, or metal) that gets embedded just below the top layer of your skin.
Information
To remove a splinter:
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Use tweezers to grab the splinter. Carefully pull it out at the same angle it went in.
If the splinte...
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Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a bone (vertebra) in the lower part of the spine slips out of the proper position onto the bone below it.
Causes
In children, spondylolisthesis usually occurs between the fifth bone in the lower back (lumbar vertebra) and the first bone in the sacrum (pelvi...
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Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis is a long-term (chronic) skin infection due to a certain fungus.
Causes
Sporotrichosis is caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenckii, which is found in vegetation. Infection commonly occurs when the skin is broken while handling plant materials such as rosebushes, briars, or mulch-ric...
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Sprains
A sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint. Ligaments are strong, flexible fibers that hold bones together. When a ligament is stretched too far or tears, the joint will become painful and swell.
Causes
Sprains are caused when a joint is forced to move into an unnatural position. For exa...
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Sputum direct fluorescent antibody (DFA)
Sputum direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) is a test that looks for microorganisms in lung secretions.
How the Test is Performed
You will produce a sputum sample from your lungs by coughing up mucus from deep inside your lungs. (The mucus is not the same as saliva or spit from the mouth.)
In the lab...
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Sputum fungal smear
A sputum fungal smear is a laboratory test that looks for fungus in a sputum sample.
Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when you cough very deeply.
How the Test is Performed
A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any material that comes up from you...
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Sputum Gram stain
A sputum Gram stain is a laboratory test that uses a series of stains to check for bacteria in a sputum sample. Sputum is the mucous material that comes up from your air passages when you cough very deeply.
The Gram stain method is one of the most commonly used techniques for the rapid diagnosis of ...
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Sputum stain for mycobacteria
Sputum stain for mycobacteria is a test to check for a type of bacteria that cause tuberculosis and other kinds of infection.
How the Test is Performed
To obtain a sputum sample, you will be asked to cough deeply and spit the substance that comes up from the lungs (sputum) into a container. You may...
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Squamous cell skin cancer
Squamous cell skin cancer is a type of tumor that affects the skin.
Causes
Squamous cell cancer occurs when cells in the skin start to change. The changes may begin in normal skin or in skin that has been injured or inflamed. Most skin cancers occur on skin that is regularly exposed to sunlight or ...
