How to Pronounce Parasternal Mediastinotomy

Say it like this: par-ah-STER-nal mee-dee-as-tih-NOT-oh-mee. The stress falls on STER in the first word and NOT in the second word. Think of it as four separate word chunks: par-ah-STER-nal (the location) and mee-dee-as-tih-NOT-oh-mee (the procedure).

In 'parasternal,' you stress the second 'a' sound: par-ah-STER-nal. In 'mediastinotomy,' you stress the 'not' part: mee-dee-as-tih-NOT-oh-mee. A common mistake is stressing the wrong part of 'mediastinotomy'—don't say mee-dee-AS-tih-nah-tuh-mee, as that puts the emphasis in the wrong spot.

'Para-' is a Greek prefix meaning 'beside' or 'next to,' and 'sternal' comes from the Latin word for the breastbone (sternum). So 'parasternal' literally means 'next to the breastbone.' The first part of the term tells you WHERE the procedure happens.

'-Otomy' (also spelled '-tomy') comes from Greek and means 'to cut into' or 'to make an opening in.' So 'mediastinotomy' means 'to cut into the mediastinum' (the space in the middle of the chest). The suffix tells you that a surgical cut is being made.

Yes! 'Parasternal' breaks into: par-ah-STER-nal (4 syllables). 'Mediastinotomy' breaks into: mee-dee-as-tih-NOT-oh-mee (7 syllables). Together, it's a long word, but dividing it into chunks makes it much easier to say.

Yes, it's also called the 'Chamberlain procedure,' which is named after the surgeon who developed it. Many doctors use this shorter name instead of saying the full term 'parasternal mediastinotomy.'

In plain English, it's a surgical cut made next to the breastbone to reach structures inside the middle part of the chest. It's a way to reach and access certain areas that need to be examined or sampled.

'Mediastinitis' (inflammation of the mediastinum) and 'mediastinoscopy' (looking into the mediastinum with a scope) both share the same root. These words all refer to the mediastinum, which is the central compartment of the chest.