Surgery

Surgery

Surgery (Latin: chirurgiae, “done by hand”) removes, repairs, or replaces damaged or diseased tissue in the body using manual or instrumental methods.

The word “surgical” is an adjective that describes something related to surgery. For instance, surgical instruments and surgical nurses. A person who performs surgery is called a “surgeon.” Surgery is a team effort that involves a surgeon, surgical assistants (such as residents, physician assistants, or nurses), an anesthesiologist, and other surgical staff (such as those who position the patient or open sterile supplies). Surgery is typically performed once and completed within minutes to hours, unlike other medical treatments that may be given periodically.

Types of Surgery

  • Based on timing
    • Elective (planned),
    • Urgent,
  • Based on purpose
    • Curative (aiming to cure a disease),
    • Palliative (aiming to relieve symptoms),
    • Definitive (best choice or ideal surgery)
    • Exploratory (aiming to diagnose),
    • Cosmetic (aiming to improve appearance),
    • Amputation (cutting and removing),
    • Reconstructive (aiming to repair a damaged part),
    • Transplantation surgery.
  • Based on body parts
    • Gastrointestinal surgery,
    • Cardiovascular surgery,
    • Head and neck surgery,
    • Orthopedic surgery,
    • Gynecologic surgery,
    • Urologic surgeries, etc.
  • Based on invasiveness (extent of damage to body tissues)
    • Minimal invasive surgery (laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery, microdiscectomy, etc.),
    • Conventional / open surgery.
  • Based on equipment used
    • Laser surgery,
    • Microsurgery (using a microscope),
    • Conventional/open surgery (using a scalpel or other hand-held instruments),
    • Laparoscopic surgery (using a telescopic camera and small incisions to perform surgery inside the body),
    • Robotic surgery (an advanced form of laparoscopic surgery where the surgeon uses a robot to perform surgery, without touching the patient and without the need for sterility).
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