Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

operating theatreA specialized hos-
pital room in which surgical procedures
are performed. The risk of infection of
open wounds during surgery is reduced
by a ventilation system that continually
provides clean, filtered air, and walls
and floors that are easily washable. Sur-
geons, assistants, and nurses use sterile
brushes and bactericidal soaps to scrub
their hands and forearms before putting
on sterile gowns, masks, and gloves.
The theatre is equipped with shadowless
operating lights; lightboxes for viewing
X-rayimages; anaesthetic machines (see
anaesthesia, general); and a diathermy
machine, which controls bleeding. A
heart–lung machinemay also be used.
operationA surgical procedure, usually
carried out with instruments but some-
times using only the hands (as in the
manipulation of a simple fracture).
ophthalmiaAn old term for ophthalmitis.
ophthalmia neonatorumA type of
eyeinflammation and discharge (oph-
thalmitis) that occurs in newborn infants,
usually as a result of infection with

gonorrhoea or chlamydia at birth. The

infection is treated with antibiotic drugs.

ophthalmitisA term that describes any

inflammatory eye disorder. Types of

ophthalmitis include ophthalmia neona-

torumand sympathetic ophthalmitis: a

rare condition in which a penetrating

injury to one eye is followed by severe

uveitis that can cause blindness in the

other eye. Sympathetic ophthalmitis can

be treated with corticosteroid drugs, but

removal of the injured eye is sometimes

necessary to save the sight of the other.

ophthalmologyThe study of the eyeand

the diagnosis and treatment of the disor-

ders that affect it. Ophthalmology covers

assessment of vision, prescription of

glasses or contact lenses, and surgery for

eye disorders, such as cataractsand glau-

coma. (See also eye, examination of;

optician; optometry; orthoptics.)

ophthalmoplegiaPartial or total para-

lysis of the muscles that move the eyes.

Ophthalmoplegia may be caused by dis-

ease of the muscles themselves, such as

Graves’ disease, or by a condition that

OPERATING THEATRE OPHTHALMOPLEGIA

O

Operating

lamp

Chief

surgeon

Piped gases

and suction

OPERATING THEATRE

Intravenous

drip

Monitor

Anaesthetist

Instrument table Operating table

Water bowl

Scrub nurse

Theatre
nurse

Viewing
screen

Power

supply

Clocks Assistant

surgeon