Cordectomy is the surgical removal of a cord. It usually refers to removal of the vocal cord, often for the purpose of treating Laryngeal Cancer http://www.entusa.com/cordectomy.htm http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/Grnds/Conserv-Laryng-Surg-2003-0528/Conserv-Laryn-Surg-2003-0528.htm. The word is derived from the Greek

Greek language

Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...

, combining "Chorde" and "ektome" meaning excision. It can be carried out by traditional surgical techniques or, increasingly, by Carbon Dioxide Laser

Carbon dioxide laser

The carbon dioxide laser was one of the earliest gas lasers to be developed , and is still one of the most useful. Carbon dioxide lasers are the highest-power continuous wave lasers that are currently available...

 http://actaitalica.it/issues/2004/5-04/policarpo.pdf. CO₂ laser cordectomy has allowed the treatment of glottic carcinoma as a day case procedure http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=7F48F4D63DA5D05BDD9FB107F0080851.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=408387. The procedure has also been carried out by vets to prevent incessant barking by dogs http://www.barkingdogs.net/debarkingsurgery.shtml.