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Surgical Procedures A-Z

Learn everything you need to know about your surgery, from beginning to end -- a key to making your decision to have surgery an educated one.
About Tonsillectomy Surgery
What happens during a tonsillectomy surgery? An explanation of the tonsillectomy procedure, the type of anesthesia used and the length of the surgery.
All About Anesthesia
Anesthesia is provided to treat or prevent pain. Learn about the risks of anesthesia, the professionals who provide anesthesia --including anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists -- the reasons why anesthesia is given, and the risks of anesthesia.
All About Weight Loss Surgery
Comparing different types of weight loss surgery, the procedures and the expected outcomes.
An In-Depth Look at Surgical Breast Cancer Treatments
Explaining surgery for breast cancer from diagnostic procedures to the differences between lumpectomy and mastectomy. Also reconstruction after surgery, men and breast cancer, exercise and sex after breast surgery and life after mastectomy.
Appendectomy
Learn what to expect when you need to have your appendix removed.
Breast Cancer Stages and Surgery Options
Standard breast cancer surgery options are based upon the stage of the disease. Learn more about what surgical treatments are best for different stages of breast cancer.
Breast Lumpectomy Surgery
What is a lumpectomy, why is it performed and when is a lumpectomy an option instead of a mastectomy.
Breast Surgery: The Types of Breast Surgery Explained
Considering breast surgery? Learn about the types of breast surgeries that are available, including videos of breast surgery and more.
Chest Tube: What Is a Chest Tube and What Does It Do?
Chest tubes are used for multiple reasons. Find out what chest tubes do, how they are inserted and how chest tubes are removed.
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias -- Diagnosis, Surgery and Recovery
What is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia? How is a diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed, when is it an emergency and how is surgery performed. Also known as a bochdalek hernia, this is a life-threatening condition. Often misspelled as diaphram or diaphramatic.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)
Are you considering surgery for your coronary artery disease? Learn about this surgery from diagnosis to recovery.
Epigastric Hernia-Diagnosis, Treatment and Surgery
What is an epigastric hernia, what causes an epigastric hernia and how is it treated.
Heart Surgery In Detail
Do you need heart surgery? Are you wondering if heart surgery is the right decision for you? Learn about heart surgery, from preparing for a heart procedure to what happens during surgery and recovering after heart surgery. Find out what you need to know about heart surgery.
Hernias from Diagnosis to Surgery and Recovery
Find out about the different types of hernias, how hernias are diagnosed, what type of surgery is done to fix the problem and what you can expect during your recovery from surgery.
Hiatal Hernias - From Diagnosis to Surgery
Find out what is a hiatal hernia? How is a hiatal hernia diagnosed? What happens during hiatal hernia surgery?
Inguinal Hernias - Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment
Understand what an inguinal hernia is, how it is diagnosed and treated. Find out what happens during inguinal hernia surgery and how an inguinal hernia and femoral hernia differ.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
If you are having trouble with your gallbladder, your physician may recommend surgery. Learn about having your gallbladder removed with the laparoscopic method.
Male Breast Cancer and Surgery
Male breast cancer is a rare but life threatening illness. Learn how male breast cancer surgery, including mastectomy and lumpectomy differs from treatment for women. Learn about reconstruction, clinical trials and support groups for men with breast cancer.
Mastectomy Surgery - Comparing Types of Mastectomies
What is a mastectomy, why is it performed and what is the difference between the different types of mastectomy surgeries.
MAZE Procedure In Detail
Considering a MAZE procedure? If you have atrial fibrillation and need a MAZE procedure learn more about what you can expect and how the surgery is performed.
Myringotomy: Surgery To Insert Ear Tubes
Find out everything you need to know about a myringotomy, or ear surgery to insert eustachian ear tubes. Find out the reasons for the surgery, the risks and rewards and what to expect when recovering from the procedure.
Oophorectomy: Should My Ovaries Stay or Go?
Oophorectomy, or surgery to remove the ovaries, has significant risks and complications, including menopause. Learn about the risks of an oophorectomy before you decide to have one.
Organ Donation
The types of organ donation explained in detail including living related organ donation, altruistic organ donation, donation after cardiac death and organ donation after brain death. Learn more about what organ donation means.
Organ Transplants-From Diagnosis to Organ Transplant Surgeries
All types of organ transplants from the diagnosis of organ failure and the waitlist for an organ transplant to the individual transplantation surgeries. Find out how to get an organ transplant and how to pay for an organ transplant surgery. Organ rejection, organ donation and additional issues in human organ transplantation.
Overview of the Cardiopulmonary Bypass Machine Used for Surgery
Cardiopulmonary bypass is commonly used for heart surgery and to treat heart failure patients. Find out when and why cardiopulmonary bypass is used.
Pacemaker Surgery: All About Pacemakers
Do you need a pacemaker? Find out what a pacemaker is, what you need to do before surgery, the risks of pacemaker surgery, how the procedure is performed and what you can expect from life after pacemaker surgery.
Splenectomy: Spleen Removal Surgery for Ruptured or Englarged Spleen
Learn more about spleen surgery, known as a splenectomy, why the spleen is removed, how it is done and what you need to know about recovering from spleen surgery.
The Ten Most Popular Plastic Surgeries
The ten most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States
Thyroidectomy: Surgery to Remove the Thyroid Gland
Learn about thyroid surgery from diagnosis and testing to what happens during and after thyroid surgery. Find out everything you need to know about thyroid surgeries.
Tonsils and Tonsillectomies-Before, During and After Surgery
Learn about tonsils, tonsillitis and when surgery is necessary. Find out what happens before, during and after tonsillectomy surgery.
Umbilical Hernias - Diagnosis, Treatment and Surgery
Find out what an umbilical hernia is, how it is diagnosed and treated. Find out what happens during an umbilical hernia repair surgery and recovery.
Understanding Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Roux-en-Y is a type of weight loss surgery that changes the size of the stomach and the amount of food the small intestine can absorb. Roux-en-Y is the most widely performed weight loss surgery and has one of the best long-term outcomes.
Understanding the Biliopancreatic Diversion Weight Loss Surgeries
Biliopancreatic Diversion (BDP) is a type of weight loss surgery that decreases stomach size and the body's ability to absorb nutrients. It is one of the most successful surgeries long term.
Understanding the Risks of Anesthesia
Before you have surgery, make sure you understand the anesthesia you will be given and the risks involved. Different types of anesthesia have different risks, understanding your personal level of risk is essential when planning surgery.
Understanding the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Weight Loss Surgery
The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss surgery typically performed on patients who cannot qualify for more standard weight loss surgeries due to weight or intestinal issues.
Vasectomy Surgery
The vasectomy procedure is a common surgery to prevent pregnancy. Find out how a vasectomy is done and what to expect before and after surgery.
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Weight Loss Surgery (VBG)
Vertical banded gastroplasty is a type of weight loss surgery that works by reducing the size of the stomach and placing a band to decrease the speed at which food exits the stomach.
What Exactly Is Robotic Surgery and Is It Truly Better?
Find out what robotic surgery is and why it is used. Learn where you can find a hospital offering robotic surgery and why robotic surgery may be better than standard surgery techniques.
What Is A Double Bypass Heart Surgery?
Double bypass heart surgery explained. Find out what double bypass surgery is and why it is performed.
What Is a Exploratory Laparotomy Surgery?
Laparotomy surgery is quite common, find out why a laparotomy is performed, what happens during a laparotomy surgery and a typical recovery from a laparotomy procedure.
What Is A Femoral Hernia Surgery
Find out what a femoral hernia is, how it is treated, how the surgery is performed and even how to prevent a femoral hernia. Also, the difference between a femoral and an inguinal hernia.
What Is a Hysterectomy? Uterine Surgery Explained
What is a hysterectomy and why do you need one? Is a hysterectomy optional or is it necessary?
What Is a Triple Bypass Heart Surgery?
Triple bypass heart surgery is a very common procedure. Find out more about triple bypass surgery and why it is performed.
What Is Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery?
Adjustable gastric banding (lap-band)explained in detail, the procedure, typical outcomes and risks.
What is an Incisional Hernia and How Is It Treated
What is an incisional hernia, what causes it and how is it treated. How is incisional hernia surgery performed and what can you expect during recovery from hernia surgery.
What is Arthroscopic Surgery?
Find out what arthroscopic surgery is, how it is done and why it is so much safer than the traditional open surgery.
What is Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Information on breast reconstruction including the different breast reconstruction procedures, the reasons for each surgery, breast reconstruction with and without an implant and resuming normal sexual activity after breast reconstruction surgery.
What Is Bypass Surgery?
What is bypass surgery and why do you need it? Find out about the different types of bypass surgery and what you can expect from each operation.
What Is Quadruple Bypass Heart Surgery?
Quadruple bypass heart surgery explained in detail. Find out what a quadruple bypass surgery is and why it is performed.
What to Expect From Emergency Surgery
Surgery is not always something you can prepare for. Injuries and illness can happen when you least expect it. Find out what to expect when you need emergency surgery.
What You Should Know About Hysterectomy Surgery
Hysterectomy surgery is a major health decision. Find out what to expect before a hysterectomy, after a hysterectomy the different types of hysterectomies. Learn what questions you should ask before a hysterectomy, what to do about bleeding after a hysterectomy and much more.
Who is Giving You Anesthesia During Surgery?
Anesthesia is given by a wide range of medical personnel, including anesthesiologists, CRNAs, anesthesia assistants and doctors of dentistry.
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