Lyfjaskurð

Lyfjaskurð is an Icelandic term that translates to "drug surgery" or "medication surgery." It refers to a surgical procedure where a drug is intentionally placed or implanted within the body to treat a specific condition. This is distinct from conventional surgery where the primary goal is to physically remove or repair tissue.

In lyfjaskurð, the surgical intervention is focused on the precise delivery of therapeutic agents. This can involve implanting devices that release medication over an extended period, or surgically embedding drug-containing materials directly into the affected area. The aim is to achieve a localized and sustained therapeutic effect, often minimizing systemic side effects associated with oral or injectable medications.

Examples of procedures that could be categorized under lyfjaskurð include the implantation of drug-eluting stents in cardiology, which release medication to prevent artery re-narrowing, or the surgical placement of chemotherapy wafers directly into a tumor bed after resection. The development of novel biomaterials and drug delivery systems continues to expand the applications of this approach. The precise nature of the intervention and the focus on drug delivery are key characteristics of lyfjaskurð.