Angiotribe

/ˈændʒioʊˌtraɪb/ noun

Definition

A surgical instrument or device used to crush blood vessels in order to stop bleeding, particularly during surgical procedures when traditional ligation is not possible.

Etymology

From Greek 'angion' (vessel) + 'tribe' (to rub, crush). This surgical instrument name reflects 19th-century techniques for hemostasis before modern vessel ligation methods.

Kelly Says

An angiotribe was the old-fashioned way surgeons stopped bleeding—they literally crushed vessels closed with a mechanical device before stitches and clamps made it obsolete!

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