Surgery

Lore & Background

Surgery is a medical specialty that employs manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions such as trauma, disease, injury, and malignancy, as well as to alter bodily functions—for example, inducing malabsorption through bariatric surgery like gastric bypass—or to reconstruct or change appearance via cosmetic surgery. The act itself is called a surgical procedure or operation, and the verb "operate" refers to performing surgery. Most procedures are carried out by a pair of operators: a surgeon, who is the main operator, and a surgical assistant providing manual aid. Modern operations typically involve a surgical team including an anaesthetist, often with an anaesthetic nurse, a scrub nurse handling sterile equipment, a circulating nurse, and a surgical technologist; procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass also include a perfusionist. All surgeries are invasive and usually require postoperative care, sometimes intensive, for recovery from iatrogenic trauma. Duration ranges from minutes to tens of hours depending on specialty, condition, and body parts involved, but most are designed as one-off interventions. A procedure is generally considered surgical when it involves cutting tissues to treat disease or injury, though procedures like angioplasty or endoscopy may be considered surgery if they involve common surgical settings such as antiseptic measures, sterile fields, sedation, hemostasis, and suturing. Minimally invasive surgeries utilize natural orifices, avoid penetrating the excised structure, or are percutaneous. In British colloquialism, "surgery" can also refer to the facility where surgery is performed or a physician’s office.

Reader's Guide

Surgery's significance lies in its ability to directly intervene in the body to treat trauma, disease, malignancy, and deformity, as well as to alter bodily functions or aesthetics. The field has developed numerous specialized techniques—from conventional open surgery to minimally invasive procedures using natural orifices or small incisions—and relies on a coordinated team of medical professionals. Surgical procedures are typically one-off interventions, though they require careful postoperative care due to the iatrogenic trauma inflicted. The categorization of surgery by urgency, purpose, and invasiveness helps guide clinical decision-making and resource allocation. Its legacy is evident in the wide range of specialties—cardiac, neurosurgery, orthopedic, and others—each addressing specific organ systems or body regions.

Did You Know?

• In British colloquialism, 'surgery' can also refer to the facility where surgery is performed or the office of a physician, dentist, or veterinarian.
• Non-survival surgery, or terminal surgery, is performed under anesthesia for euthanasia, usually in animal testing experiments.
• Minimally invasive surgeries may use natural orifices (e.g., nostril, mouth, anus, urethra) or percutaneous approaches such as arthroscopy or angioplasty.
• A surgical team typically includes a surgeon, surgical assistant, anaesthetist, scrub nurse, circulating nurse, and surgical technologist; procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass also include a perfusionist.