Definition of "phlebotomy" [phle•bot•o•my]

• The act or practice of opening a vein by incision or puncture to remove blood as a therapeutic treatment. Also called venesection. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "In addition, it's wise for all of us, patients and doctors alike, to remember that blood-drawing is a medical procedure called phlebotomy that comes with benefits and risks like any other procedure."
• "This Phase III randomized, multi-center, clinical trial compares standard therapy to prevent repeated stroke and the management of iron overload in pediatric patients (red cell transfusions and iron chelation) with an alternative therapy consisting of the medication, hydroxyurea, combined with phlebotomy, which is the removal of red blood cells."
• "These treatments include combination drug therapy with interferon and ribavirin Rebetron; a drug called amantadine; and a procedure called phlebotomy, or iron reduction therapy."