In this module, you learn how surgery has developed since ancient times. You’ll see how the mummification of bodies taught surgeons about anatomy, improving their surgical treatment of disease and pain.
You’ll also examine how a surgeon’s identity is shaped by societal institutions: definitions of who is a surgeon, training requirements, and standards for hospitals. Contact Copper Mountain Surgical now!
Surgery is a medical procedure that involves cutting into or manipulating tissue to repair diseased areas or change how the body works. It can involve opening the major body cavities (abdomen, chest, and skull). Surgery may also include removing tissue to test for disease or repairing an injury by stitching or placing implanted materials such as artificial joints.
Surgical procedures may be urgent or elective. Urgent surgeries are needed to prevent or treat life-threatening conditions. Elective surgeries are done to correct non-life-threatening conditions. The decision to have an elective surgery is generally made by the patient, but the surgeon and other healthcare providers may offer suggestions based on the person’s health history.
Surgery can improve function, cure disease, reduce pain or discomfort and help with appearance. It is sometimes done to remove cancer or other abnormal tissue, and to remove extra skin because of weight loss (abdominoplasty). Some people choose surgery to enhance their appearance, such as tummy tucks or breast implants. Surgery is performed in hospitals and outpatient clinics. It is often performed under general anesthesia, in which you go to sleep during the procedure.
Some surgical procedures, such as biopsy or a colonoscopy, do not involve cutting into the body. In these procedures, the doctor uses a tool called an endoscope to see inside the body. Other surgical procedures, such as removing the cervix in a woman or a procedure to drain hemorrhoids, require more extensive cuts. Surgeons can now do many operations that used to need large cuts by using a tool inserted through the small incisions, such as a laparoscope or an endoscope.
In some operations, arteries and veins are removed or joined in new ways to improve blood flow. For example, bypass surgery improves the flow of blood to the heart by taking a vein or an artery from another part of the body and connecting it to the coronary arteries.
Other types of surgeries may be used to help control pain, such as removing an infected appendix or inserting a catheter to treat a blocked vein. Some surgeries may be done to help with breathing or swallowing, such as a tracheotomy or a gastrectomy.
What are the different methods of surgery?
Surgical methods differ depending on your condition and the procedure chosen. Two broad categories are open surgery and minimally invasive surgery (also called laparoscopic) techniques.
In open surgery, your surgeon makes large cuts to access the tissues and organs that need repair or removal. Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions or natural openings instead of large cuts, so you heal faster.
Your doctor may recommend surgery to cure your condition or prevent complications from arising. It’s important that you understand the benefits, risks and possible side effects of any surgery you have. It’s also your right to ask your doctor or surgeon about other treatment options before you agree to it. This is known as informed consent.
There are many types of surgery, and each has its own purpose and recovery time. Some are life-saving, while others improve a person’s quality of life or comfort when there is no hope of curing the problem with medicine.
Reconstructive surgery aims to restore function (such as reconstructing a damaged knee or hand) or improve appearance, such as repairing a cleft palate. Sometimes it achieves both goals, such as when a nose job corrects a deformity and enhances facial appearance.
Palliative surgery aims to reduce pain, control symptoms or improve your quality of life when there is no chance of curing the condition, such as removing a tumor or removing cancerous tissue from the uterus or colon. It can help to reduce your discomfort and improve your ability to eat, drink or sleep.
Minor surgeries may include biopsies, repairs of small wounds, or removal of warts, benign skin lesions, hemorrhoids or abscesses. These are usually done with local anesthesia or sedation, and require little to no hospital stay.
Some of these procedures use traditional tools, such as surgical knives, but most are conducted using minimally invasive instruments that cut, seal and destroy tissue by converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. For example, electrocoagulation uses electric current to stop bleeding, and electrodesiccation destroys tissue by heating it with high-frequency electric current. The surgical team may also use lasers, ultrasound or freezing to destroy tissue.
Who will be on my surgical team?
The surgeon is the lead member of the surgical team and performs the operation. They have completed four years of medical school and then further specialized training in surgery. They are also required to pass a national surgical board exam. The surgeon may be called a general surgeon, a plastic surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon or other specialty.
A first surgical assistant will help the surgeon during the procedure. The first assist can be another licensed surgeon, a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant or a registered nurse with additional training as a surgical nurse or surgical tech. A medical student completing their last year of a residency program can be a first assist as well. The surgical team should work together with one another to ensure the safety of the patient.
After the surgery, a nurse will prepare the patient for discharge and answer any questions they have about their recovery. Patients can expect to be discharged from the hospital the day after the procedure.
Prior to undergoing surgery, the patient will meet with their doctor for a checkup. The doctor will make sure the patient is healthy enough to undergo surgery and will discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives with the patient.
On the day of the procedure, the patient will arrive at the hospital several hours before the scheduled start time to allow for pre-op preparations. This includes a meeting with the anesthesiologist to discuss and come up with anesthesia care plan.
During surgery, the surgical team is divided into sterile and non-sterile members. The sterile members are dressed in special sterile gowns, masks and hats and only use sterile equipment. The non-sterile members keep the sterile members supplied and deal with any issues that arise during the procedure.
The team is led by the surgeon and includes a number of nurses, anesthesiologists, technicians and others. It has been found that dedicated teams of specialized individuals with experience in the particular intervention can improve both technical and non-technical outcomes for the surgical patient. However, further studies are needed to determine optimal settings and standardized methods for measuring outcomes.
How is surgery done?
Surgery is done through an opening in the body, called an incision. This can be through a large cut (such as when an abdominal operation is performed) or through small holes in the skin (for example, when surgery is done on the liver or gallbladder). Surgery may be used to make or confirm a diagnosis, remove damaged tissue or an obstruction, repair or replace faulty tissues or organs, redirect blood vessels, and transplant tissues or organs. Surgery can also relieve pain, reduce a symptom, or improve some function. In some cases, like cancer or AIDS, surgery can save lives.
Some surgeries involve a long stay in the hospital, which can be stressful for many patients and their families. To help alleviate this stress, it is important for patients to know what to expect before the operation, and the surgeon or nurse should be able to answer any questions.
Typically, people are asked to arrive about 2 hours before the operation starts. A registered nurse will greet them and help them prepare for surgery. They will ask about their medical history and any medications they take. They will also discuss the surgery with the surgical team. If the surgery is for cancer, the surgeon will often recommend removing lymph nodes and other nearby tissue that can be examined under a microscope to find out whether the tumor has spread.
Once a patient is ready for surgery, they will usually have to change into a hospital gown. The area of the skin that will be cut (the operative site) is cleaned with an antiseptic. This minimizes the number of bacteria that will enter the wound during the procedure. The patient will need to remove any jewelry, contact lenses, or hearing aids, and will need to take off their shoes.
Before the procedure, some people may need to take certain medicines, such as aspirin or warfarin for blood clots. It is important for patients to take these medicines as instructed. Other medicines, such as medications for chronic health problems, may be taken as usual, but the surgeon should be consulted before starting any new treatments.