1.   One other remained in hospital for an exploratory operation on a shoulder injury.

2.   Examinations involving the use of a hypodermic syringe, the administration of a drug or exploratory operations were ruled out.

3.   A locum consultant failed to spot the result of her earlier test and arranged for a totally unnecessary exploratory operation.

4.   Apart from helping to reduce patient waiting lists it could do away with the need for exploratory operations in certain cases, particularly spinal and knee complaints.

5.   Eventually, doctors began suggesting exploratory operations to find out what was wrong with her.

6.   I decided on an exploratory operation.

7.   The Chilean international underwent an exploratory operation on Tuesday night.