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Procedures & Tests Beginning With E
16 procedures and tests in this guide begin with the letter E. Every name links to a plain-language page covering what the procedure is, how to prepare, what happens during it, and what recovery involves.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X
| Procedure / test | Category | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Ear grommet insertion (myringotomy with tubes) | Minor Procedures & Pain | Grommets (ventilation tubes) are tiny tubes inserted through the eardrum after a small cut (myringotomy) to let air into the middle ear, equalise pressure, drain fluid and prevent recurrent infections. They are commonly used in children with persistent glue ear. |
| Ear wax removal (microsuction / irrigation) | Minor Procedures & Pain | Ear wax removal clears impacted wax causing hearing loss, discomfort, a blocked feeling, ringing, or preventing examination of the eardrum. Microsuction (gentle suction under a microscope) is the most widely used clinic method; irrigation (flushing with warm water) and manual removal with instruments are alternatives. |
| EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) | Endoscopy | EBUS is a bronchoscopy with a tiny ultrasound probe on the tip of the scope. It lets the specialist see and sample lymph glands and masses beside the airways (in the centre of the chest) with a needle passed through the airway wall under live ultrasound guidance (EBUS-TBNA). |
| Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) | Heart | An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart. It shows the heart chambers, valves and pumping action in motion, using sound waves only — no radiation. |
| EEG (electroencephalogram) | Brain & Nerves | An EEG records the brain's electrical activity through small electrodes placed on the scalp. It looks for abnormal patterns that help classify seizures and epilepsy, and assess some other brain conditions. |
| Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) | Heart | An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a recording of the heart's electrical activity through sticky electrodes placed on the chest, arms and legs. It is quick, painless and completely safe. |
| Endometrial ablation | Women's Health | Endometrial ablation destroys the lining of the womb using heat, freezing or other energy delivered by a device passed through the cervix, to reduce or stop heavy periods. No cuts are made. |
| Endometrial biopsy (pipelle) | Women's Health | An endometrial biopsy takes a small sample of the womb lining, usually with a thin suction device (pipelle) passed through the cervix in clinic — no anaesthetic or cuts needed. |
| Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) | Endoscopy | Endoscopic ultrasound combines an endoscope with an ultrasound probe at its tip, giving very detailed pictures of the gut wall and nearby organs such as the pancreas, bile ducts and lymph nodes from inside the body. A fine needle can be passed to sample tissue. |
| Entropion / ectropion repair | Eyes | Entropion is an eyelid (usually lower) that turns inwards so lashes rub the eye; ectropion is a lid that turns outwards, leaving the eye exposed and watery. Both are repaired with small eyelid-tightening operations, usually under local anaesthetic. |
| ERCP | Endoscopy | ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) combines an endoscope passed through the mouth into the small bowel with X-ray dye pictures of the bile and pancreatic ducts. It is mainly a treatment procedure — for example removing stones from the bile duct or placing a stent to relieve a blockage. |
| Evoked potentials (VEP / SSEP / BAEP) | Brain & Nerves | Evoked potential tests measure how fast signals travel along specific pathways: visual (VEP — eyes to brain, using a chequerboard screen), auditory (BAEP — clicks to the brainstem), and somatosensory (SSEP — limb nerves through the spinal cord to the brain). Slowing reveals damage such as demyelination. |
| Exercise stress test (treadmill test) | Heart | An exercise stress test records the heart's electrical activity, blood pressure and symptoms while you walk on a treadmill (or pedal an exercise bike) at gradually increasing effort. |
| External cephalic version (ECV) | Women's Health | External cephalic version is a procedure to turn a breech baby (bottom-down) to head-down by applying pressure with hands on the mother's abdomen, guided by ultrasound, to increase the chance of a vaginal birth. |
| Eye examination under anaesthetic / EUA and probing for blocked tear duct in children | Eyes | In young children, some eye checks and simple procedures need a short general anaesthetic. Two common examples are a full examination under anaesthetic (to measure, photograph and examine eyes that cannot be assessed in clinic) and probing of a blocked tear duct that has not cleared with massage and time. |
| Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty / ptosis repair) | Eyes | Eyelid surgery includes blepharoplasty (removing excess skin and fat from hooded upper lids, sometimes also lower lids) and ptosis repair (tightening the muscle that lifts a drooping upper eyelid). When drooping skin or lid position blocks vision, surgery is functional as well as cosmetic. |
Please note: This page is educational information about a medical procedure or test. It does not replace the instructions of your own care team, who know your situation and whose preparation, fasting and medication advice you should follow if it differs from anything here. If you have symptoms that worry you, or an appointment you do not understand, contact your clinical team.