Surgical Procedures and Types

• Surgery utilizes manual and instrumental techniques on patients.
• Surgery aims to investigate or treat pathological conditions like disease or injury.
• Surgery helps improve bodily function and appearance.
• Surgery repairs unwanted ruptured areas.

Types of Surgery

• Elective surgery improves the patient's quality of life.
• Emergency surgery saves a patient's life or limb.
• Exploratory surgery diagnoses a condition.
• Curative surgery removes a diseased or damaged body part.
• Palliative surgery relieves symptoms or pain.
• Cosmetic surgery improves a patient's appearance.
• Reconstructive surgery restores function or appearance.
• Transplant surgery replaces a diseased or damaged organ with a healthy one.

Surgical Procedures

• Open surgery involves a large incision for access.
• Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions and specialized instruments for visualization and operation.
• Robotic surgery uses a robot to assist the surgeon.
• Laparoscopic surgery uses a laparoscope (thin tube with a camera) to visualize the surgical site.
• Arthroscopic surgery uses an arthroscope (thin tube with a camera) to visualize the inside of a joint.

Surgical Specialties

• General surgery focuses on abdominal organs, breast, endocrine system, and skin.
• Cardiothoracic surgery focuses on the heart, lungs, and other chest organs.
• Neurosurgery focuses on the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
• Orthopedic surgery focuses on bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
• Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) focuses on the ears, nose, and throat.
• Ophthalmology focuses on the eyes.
• Urology focuses on the urinary tract and male reproductive system.
• Plastic surgery focuses on reconstruction, restoration, or alteration of the human body.
• Pediatric surgery focuses on the surgical care of infants, children, and adolescents.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery focuses on the mouth, jaws, face, and neck.
• Vascular surgery focuses on blood vessels.

Surgical Instruments

• Scalpels are used for incisions.
• Forceps are for grasping and holding tissues.
• Retractors hold back tissues and organs to expose the surgical site.
• Scissors are for cutting tissues and sutures.
• Clamps occlude blood vessels and other structures.
• Sutures close wounds.
• Staples close wounds.
• Endoscopes visualize the surgical site.
• Lasers cut, coagulate, and ablate tissues.
• Electrocautery devices cut and coagulate tissues.
• Ultrasound devices image the surgical site.

Anesthesia

• Anesthesia is medication to relieve pain and anxiety during surgery.
• General anesthesia causes temporary loss of consciousness.
• Regional anesthesia numbs a large area of the body.
• Local anesthesia numbs a small area of the body.
• Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) uses sedatives and analgesics to relieve pain while the patient is conscious.

Preoperative Care

• Preoperative care prepares the patient for surgery.
• Includes a medical history and physical examination.
• Includes blood tests, urine tests, and imaging studies.
• Includes patient education about the procedure, risks, and benefits.
• Includes obtaining informed consent.
• Includes ensuring the patient has fasted.
• Includes administering medications as prescribed.
• Includes removing jewelry, dentures, and other objects.
• Includes antiseptic soap shower.

Intraoperative Care

• Intraoperative care monitors the patient during surgery.
• Vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation are monitored.
• Medications are administered as prescribed.
• A sterile environment is maintained.
• The patient is positioned to optimize surgical access.
• Assisting the surgeon as needed is part of the process.
• Documentation of the procedure.

Postoperative Care

• Postoperative care involves monitoring the patient after surgery.
• Includes monitoring vital signs.
• Includes administering medications.
• Includes pain management.
• Includes preventing infection.
• Includes promoting wound healing.
• Includes providing nutrition.
• Includes encouraging activity.
• Includes educating the patient and family about home care.

Surgical Complications

• Infection can occur at the surgical site or elsewhere.
• Bleeding can occur during or after surgery.
• Blood clots can form in the legs or lungs.
• Pneumonia can develop after surgery.
• Urinary retention can occur after surgery.
• Nausea and vomiting are possible after surgery.
• Pain can persist after surgery.
• Scarring can occur after surgery.
• Nerve damage can occur during surgery.
• Anesthesia complications are a risk during surgery.
• Death.