ARTERIOTOMY

ARTERIOTOMY,in Surgery, etc. the Operation of opening an Artery; or of letting of Blood by the Arteries practiced in some extraordinary Cases. See ARTERY, PHLEBOTOMY, &c.—For the Effects hereof, see Aneurisma. Arteriotomy, is a very dangerous Operation, seldom used with Design, except in the Temples, and behind the Ears, where the Arteries are easily reached again by reason of the Cranium underneath, which would be very difficult in any other Part.—In the other Parts it usually proves fatal; and we have numerous Instances of Persons killed in Bleeding, by a Mistake of an Artery for a Vein. Catherwood endeavours to introduce Arteriotomy in apoplectic Cases, as much preferable to Venesection; but he is not much followed. See APOPLEXY. The Word is formed of ἀρτηρία, and τέμνω, (ἔκο, I cut.