exenterate

Exenterate is a verb meaning to remove the contents of something. In a medical context, it most commonly refers to exenteration of the pelvis, a radical surgical procedure involving the removal of organs from the pelvic cavity. This can include the bladder, rectum, uterus, cervix, vagina, ovaries, and surrounding tissues, depending on the extent of the cancer or disease. Pelvic exenteration is typically performed to treat advanced or recurrent pelvic cancers, such as cervical, vaginal, rectal, or bladder cancer, when other treatment options are no longer viable.

The procedure is complex and carries significant risks and potential complications. Recovery can be long and challenging, often requiring the creation of new urinary and fecal diversions. The decision to undergo exenteration is made after careful consideration of the potential benefits versus the substantial physical and psychological impact on the patient. It is a life-altering surgery reserved for specific, severe cases where it offers the only chance for cure or significant palliation. The term can also be used more generally to describe the evacuation of contents from any hollow space or organ.