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Surgery: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Signs of Infection
There are many different signs and symptoms of infections. Find out the signs and symptoms of general infections as well as incision infections.
Heart Blood Flow
Wondering how blood travels through the heart? Learn about how the heart pumps blood, and how it travels through the heart and body, tracing a drop of blood through the heart.
Coagulation Studies
Find out what PT, PTT and INR blood tests are, what the results mean and what could you could be eating and doing to change the test results of these common pre-surgery blood tests.
Be a Doctor or Surgeon
Becoming a doctor or surgeon is a long and challenging process. Learn how to become a doctor or surgeon starting in high school or college. Learn how many years it takes to become a surgeon and what happens during each stage of training including bachelor's degree, medical school, residency and fellowships.
What To Eat After Surgery
Find out what to eat after surgery to help improve your healing and help your incision close quickly. Proper nutrition and food choices can help your recovery.
Question & Answer: Urination
The inability to urinate after surgery is a serious complication. Find out what to do if you can't pee after surgery, the treatment when you can't urinate. The causes of an inability to pee or urinate after surgery, called urinary retention, are explained.
MD vs DO
What are the differences between MD doctors and DO doctors and how do they affect the patient? Find out how these two types of doctors differ, how their training differs and what it means for you.
Surgical Emergencies
Learn how to identify warning signs after your surgery.
Surgery Recovery
Recovering from surgery is the first step to feeling healthy after surgery. How quickly should be recovered from surgery and when will you be done healing and back to work and normal activities? What happens after you are discharged home to recover? Learn more about recovering after your surgery.
After Tonsillectomy
Learn what to eat, what not to eat and when to call the surgeon while recovering from a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy surgery. Find out what to expect during a typical recovery from tonsillectomy surgery.
Chem 7
Learn more about one of the most common blood tests, the blood chemistry, or Chem7. Find out what is being tested for and what the results mean.
Constipation
Surgery can often cause constipation, and if the procedure doesn't, the changes in your daily routine can. Learn what diet, exercise, fluids, pain medications and surgery can do to cause constipation.
All About Hysterectomy
Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)about hysterectomy surgery. Find out what to expect before and after a hysterectomy.
Triple Bypass
What is a triple bypass and why is it done? Triple bypass heart surgery is a very common procedure. Find out more about triple bypass surgery, open heart surgery and more.
Incision Care 101
Learn how to care for your surgical incision properly. Find out the right way to care for your incision to heal quickly after your surgical procedure is over.
Incisional Hernia
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.
Vagina Defined
The definition of vagina, including what the vagina does, where it is located and a vagina image
No Food Before Surgery
Find out why you can't eat before you have surgery. No eating or drinking before surgery is a common instruction, find out what to eat before surgery and when you need to quit eating to be ready for your procedure.
Umbilical Hernia 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.
Hysterectomy Surgery
Learn more about recovering from hysterectomy surgery, including recovery time, normal recovery and restrictions.
Incision Care
Learn how to properly care for an incision, preventing infection and healing quickly.
Complications After Surgery
Do you have questions about your recovery after surgery? Find out the answers to common questions about incisions, complications and problems that happen during recovery after surgery.
Heart Bypass Surgery
Find out what to expect when recovering after open heart bypass surgery. Learn what is normal after your open heart surgery.
Liver Enzyme Tests
Liver enzymes are an important way to measure the function of your liver, also known as hepatic function. Find out what normal liver enzyme and liver function levels are and what can change your results.
Sex After Surgery
When is it safe to have sex after your surgery? Should you wait before having sexual intercourse or can you have sex today? Find out when it is safe and when you should wait before returning to your sex life after surgery.
Hiatal Hernias
Find out what happens during hiatal hernia surgery, known as a Nissen Fundoplication.
Epigastric Hernia
What is an epigastric hernia, what causes an epigastric hernia and how is it treated.
Surgical Risks
Before undergoing surgery, every patient should understand the risks involved. No surgery is risk free, but understanding the potential problems will help guide patients to an informed decision.
Surgery Tests
Tests are very common before surgery. Find out what tests you can expect to have before your procedure, what the results mean and why the test is being performed.
Prevent Scars
Learn how to prevent and minimize surgery scars. It is possible to minimize scars from an injury or surgery, find out the different ways to decrease scarring.
Bleeding After Hysterectomy
Are you experiencing bleeding after having a hysterectomy? Find out when bleeding after a hysterectomy is normal, what to do about post hysterectomy bleeding and when the bleeding may indicate a serious problem.
Thyroid Surgery
Wondering what you can expect after thyroid surgery? Find out what happens during a typical recovery after thyroid surgery.
Quadruple Bypass
Quadruple bypass heart surgery is a very serious surgical procedure. Find out what a quadruple bypass surgery is and why quadruple bypass surgery is necessary and more about open heart surgery.
Showers or Baths After Surgery
There are many precautions that need to be taken after having surgery. Bathing and swimming may be limited for some time. When is it safe to take a bath after surgery?
Pacemaker Surgery
After your pacemaker surgery it is time for recovery. Find out what you can expect after your pacemaker surgery.
Before Surgery
What do before you have surgery, from finding a surgeon to what to pack for your hospital stay. Important surgical information from nutrition and exercise before surgery, finding out the costs of surgery,preparing for discharge, dental work and surgery, the 24 hours before surgery, what to eat and not eat and drink before your surgery.
Hernia Surgery
Hernia surgery is very common, but there are many types of hernias and just as many types of hernia repair surgeries. Find out about the different types of hernias, how hernias are diagnosed, and the types of surgery is done to fix the problem. Find out what you need to know about hernia surgery.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
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.
Heart Surgery Complications
The risks and complications of heart surgery are explained in detail. Understand the potential complications of having open heart surgery in this article.
Inguinal Hernia
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.
After Anesthesia
Why does my throat hurt after surgery? What should I do about a sore throat after surgery? When should my throat feel better after surgery? Learn why general anesthesia and intubation during surgery can cause throat pain and what to do about it.
Gallbladder Surgery
Find out what you can expect after gallbladder surgery.
Pus After Surgery
Pus coming from a wound or a surgical incision can be a serious problem. Find out what to do if you notice pus coming from your incision after surgery.
Dehiscence Explained
Find out what to do if your incision begins to open, a complication known as dehiscence. An incision that opens up can become a serious problem that requires medical attention. Find out more about this surgical complication here.
Surgical Specialties
An A-Z list of the different types of surgical specialties and the type of surgery that is practiced.
Anesthesia Risks
A sore throat is a common side effect of general anesthesia. What causes a sore throat during surgery?
CBC Test
Learn what a CBC blood test is and what the results mean, along with other common blood tests.
Surgery Anxiety and Fear
If you are afraid of surgery you are not alone. Surgery can be very scary, for some it can cause full blown panic attacks. Learn about ways to deal with a fear of surgery and the anxiety it causes in this article.
Preventing Infection
How to prevent infections after your surgery. Learn how to avoid an infection during recovery from surgery.
Surgery Drugs
Learn more about surgery drugs, the drugs typically used before surgery, during surgery and after surgery. This list of common surgery drugs includes antibiotics, anesthesia drugs and more.
Temperature After Surgery
Are you concerned about a temperature after surgery? Find out if your temperature is serious, if your fever is normal and what you should do about a temperature after surgery.
Intubation
What is intubation? What is the definition of intubation? Find out why intubation is done, why intubation is necessary with general anesthesia along with images of intubation.
Spleen Definition
What does the spleen do and how does it function? Find out what the spleen does and why you can live without it.
Myringotomy
Find out when adults need a myringotomy, a surgery to insert ear tubes that is typically done for children.
Diarrhea Cholecystectomy
Diarrhea after gallbladder surgery can be a serious problem. Find out why diarrhea is common after cholecystectomy this common side effect happens and what to do about diarrhea after gallbladder surgery. Learn how to treat diarrhea after gallbladder surgery.
Femoral Hernia Explained
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.
Paying For Surgery
Learn how to pay for surgery if your insurance company won't, or if you do not have insurance. Even if your insurance won't pay you can still have surgery.
Tell Your Surgeon
Your surgeon needs information from you just as much as you need information about your surgery. Here are the ten things you need to discuss with your surgeon before scheduling your procedure.
Depression
Identifying the signs and symptoms of depression can lead to faster treatment. A diagnosis of a serious injury or surgery can trigger an episode of depression. Find out the signs of depression here.
Anesthesia
What is anesthesia? Find out what anesthesia is, how anesthesia is given, the types of anesthesia and much more.
Surgery Questions
Before you have surgery there are questions you should ask. Find out what surgery questions you should ask your surgeon.
Mastectomy In Detail
What is a radical mastectomy surgery, why is it rarely performed and how does it compare with other newer types of mastectomy surgery.
Recovery From Hemorrhoid Treatment
Are you considering hemorrhoid surgery? Find out what you can expect after having hemorrhoid treatment and during your recovery.
Catheter
What is a catheter and why is it used, find out what a catheter is and why a catheter is used in medicine.
Lumpectomy
After breast lumpectomy surgery including normal incision care, normal recovery, the wait for lab results and how to minimize pain and discomfort.
Appendectomy
Did you or a loved one have an appendectomy surgery? Find out what to expect when recovering from an appendectomy.
Peroxide
Find out the best ways to care for an incision after surgery, including whether or not you can use alcohol, peroxide, lotions, powders and ointments on your incision
Scabs
Find out what a skin scab is made of and what to do if you have a scab. Surgery incisions have scabs, find out how to treat the scab on your skin incision.
TURP Syndrome (TUR Syndrome)
TURP syndrome, also known as TUR syndrome, is a serious complication after prostate surgery. Find out what TURP syndrome is and what causes TURP Syndrome. Learn the symptoms of TURP syndrome here.
Atherosclerosis Explained
Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are not the same thing. Learn the differences between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis and why atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis or both may make open heart surgery necessary.
General Anesthesia
What is general anesthesia, how is it given, why is it given and by whom?
Hysterectomy Risks Explained
What are the potential risks and complications of hysterectomy? Find out what you need to know about the risks of hysterectomy surgery and the possible complications.
Heart Surgery
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.
Endometriosis & Hysterectomy
Endometriosis is a common reason for having a hysterectomy. Find out about endometriosis after a hysterectomy, why you may experience endometriosis pain after hysterectomy and why endometriosis is not always cured by hysterectomy surgery.
Lactated Ringer's
Find out what Lactated Ringer's is, why it is given and what you need to know about Lactated Ringer's after surgery. Lactated Ringer's is a common IV solution, find out why it is used.
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.
Wound Opening After Surgery
Question: Help, my incision is opening up! What do I do? Answer: When a surgical incision starts to open,
Heart Valves
There are four valves in the human heart. Find out how the heart valves function, their location and more.
Bandage Change
Find out how your healing incision should look and how to spot the signs of infection in your healing wound.
Dilaudid
Have you been prescribed Dilaudid (Hydromorphone)? Find out what Dilaudid is, what can expect when you take Dilaudid or about Dilaudid's side effects? .
Vasectomy Surgery
After your vasectomy, you will need to be sure that you are no longer fertile before you have unprotected sex.
After Hysterectomy
Pregnancy after hysterectomy, is isn't possible, or is it? Find out the truth about becoming pregnant after having hysterectomy surgery.
Local Anesthesia
There are several types of anesthesia, local anesthesia is one of the types used for minor procedures.
Double Bypass Explained
What is double bypass heart surgery? Find out what double bypass surgery is, why a double bypass is performed and what you need to know about open heart surgery.
Versed
What is Versed? When is Versed given? Find out why Versed is given, when Versed is used, how Versed is given, the side effects of Versed and combining Versed and Fentanyl.
Explore Your Surgery Options
Before you make up your mind to have surgery, take the time to explore your options. You may be able to postpone surgery or completely avoid it.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Cardiopulmonary bypass is commonly used for heart surgery and to treat heart failure patients. Find out when and why cardiopulmonary bypass is used.
Tonsils and Surgery
Learn about tonsils, tonsillitis and when surgery is necessary. Find out what happens before, during and after tonsillectomy surgery.
Hand Washing
How to wash your hands. Find out the right way to wash your hands, prevent the spread of infection, and more. Hand washing can prevent infections after surgery, colds, flu and more.
What is Pus
An explanation of the term pus, including what pus is made of, what pus means and why pus is a problem after surgery.
Fever After Surgery
What are the causes of fever after surgery? Find out what causes a temperature after surgery, when a fever after surgery is an emergency and when to call your surgeon about a fever.
What is an MRI?
Learn what an MRI does, how it works and why you might need one.
Finding a Surgeon
Learning how to find a surgeon isn't difficult, but it requires more effort than opening the phone book. Learn how to find a surgeon and remember, all surgeons are not created equally. Learn how to find the best surgeon for you.
Hysterectomy Interviews
Find out what you can expect after a hysterectomy. Learn what real women say about their experience with life after hysterectomy
Uterus Defined
What is the uterus, where it is located and what it does.
What is Monitored Anesthesia?
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC), often referred to as twilight sleep, is a type of light anesthesia used for minor procedures.
Referred Pain
Referred pain explained, learn more about referred pain.
After Weight Loss Surgery
Twenty-five helpful tips for life after gastric bypass surgery. Learn how to achieve your goals after your weight loss surgery. Find out the best ways to make your weight loss a success after surgery, make your bypass surgery work for you.
Best Hospital Gifts
When a loved one is sick and in the hospital many people like to take a gift when they visit. Find out what gifts may not be appropriate for someone who is sick and in the hospital and gifts that your friend will appreciate.
Craniotomy vs Craniectomy
Wondering about the difference between a craniotomy and a craniectomy? Learn more about these surgeries, including when a craniectomy is better than a craniotomy.
Packing Well
Find out what you should pack for the hospital to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Whether you are having surgery or a baby, packing well can make a huge difference in your recovery.
Hysterectomy Questions
If you are considering having a hysterectomy, you will find this list of questions to ask your surgeon very helpful. Ask better hysterectomy questions and have a better surgery outcome.
SurgeryPain
There are many types of surgery pain. Learn more about the types of pain that may be present before and after surgery.
Splenectomy
Find out what you need to know about life after a splenectomy, or spleen surgery. Find out what you need to do after your splenectomy.
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.
Heart Valve Replacements
Considering heart valve replacement? Learn the differences between heart valves and how to choose a replacement heart valve.
Oophorectomy Risks
Oophorectomy, or surgery to remove the ovaries, has significant risks and complications. Learn about the risks of an oophorectomy. Make sure you understand the risks associated with oophorectomy, or removal of the ovaries, before you choose to have surgery.
Hypertension
Learn about the causes of primary hypertension, secondary hypertension and white coat hypertension. Find out why hypertension can happen after surgery when your blood pressure was normal before the surgical procedure.
Lymph Nodes
An explanation of the function of lymph nodes, their location and more.
Emergency Surgery
What is emergency surgery and why do you need it? What makes a health problem an emergency? What should you expect when you need emergency surgery from lab tests and anesthesia to recovery. Emergency surgery doesn't have to be traumatic if you know what to expect.
Resident Explained
An explanation of the different levels of education for doctors, including medical and surgical residents. Know who is taking care of your healthcare!
Universal Recipient
What is a universal recipient? Who is a universal recipient? Find out what blood type is a universal recipient and how it works for blood and organ donation.
Diprivan (Propofol) Explained
Diprivan Explained. What is Diprivan? What is Propofol? Why is Diprivan Used? Should I be concerned if I'm receiving Diprivan during surgery? Find out more about Propofol (Diprivan).
No Surgery is Risk Free
The risks of surgery include death, typically from a complication of anesthesia. Consider the risks of surgery, no surgery is risk free.
Laparoscopic Surgery Defined
The definition of laparoscopic surgery
Prostate Surgery
Are you looking for information about prostate surgery? Find information about what happens during prostate surgery, a comparison of prostate surgery procedures and more.
Diabetes and Surgery
Diabetics have a higher risk of complications when they have surgery. Learn how to decrease the risk of diabetic complications, how to prepare for surgery as a diabetic. Preparing for surgery is important for diabetics and needs to include nutritional support and glycemic control. Should you take your insulin before surgery?
After Prostate Surgery
Find out what to expect after prostate surgery. Sex after prostate surgery information, incontinence after prostate surgery and other potential prostate surgery complications explained.
Fellowship
What is a fellow? What is a surgical or medical fellowship? Learn more about how physicians are educated, what it means to be a fellow, and how a surgery fellowship plays a role in the training of new doctors.
Morphine
Questions about Morphine? Learn more about the drug Morphine, what you can expect when you are given Morphine after surgery, including the risks of Morphine and side effects of Morphine.
Chronic Definition
The term chronic is explained in detail.
Esophageal Varices
What are esophageal varices? What does it mean when someone has esophageal varices? Find out what esophageal varices are and what causes them.
Children and Surgery
Children have special needs when preparing for surgery. Kids may have questions about surgery that they are afraid to ask or they may need reassurance they they will be fine after surgery. Learn how to prepare your child for surgery so the experience will not be a traumatic one.
Is it Bath Time?
There are many precautions that need to be taken after having surgery. Bathing and swimming may be limited for some time. When is it safe to take a bath after surgery?
Heart Murmur
Heart murmurs are very common. Learn the different types of heart murmurs and what a heart murmur means.
Intern
What is an intern? What kind of doctor is an intern? What does intern mean and why is it important? Find out what you need to know if you are being cared for by an intern.
General Surgery
What is general surgery? How is general surgery different from other types of surgical specialties?
Breast Reconstruction
Nipple reconstruction is an optional procedure after having a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Learn how nipple reconstruction is done and what you need to know about nipple reconstruction.
Is Weight Loss Surgery For You
Do you need weight loss surgery? Do you qualify for weight-loss surgery? Find out if you are a candidate for weight loss surgery and the current criteria for surgical candidates. Find out how to qualify for bariatric surgery, the criteria for weight loss surgery and more.
DVT
Learn what a DVT, or deep vein thrombosis is, where they are commonly found and why they are more common after surgery.
Plastic Surgery Popularity
The ten most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States
Congenital Defined
An explanation of the term congenital, including congenital birth defects and congenital diseases.
Between Surgeries
How long should you wait between surgeries? Find out how long you should wait before having another surgical procedure.
Jejunum
What is the jejunum and what does the jejunum do? Find out about the jejunum here.
Costs of Surgery
Why is surgery so expensive and what makes it cost so much? Find out why surgery is so expensive and what contributes to the high cost of surgical procedures.
The First Step to a New Organ
Being placed on the organ transplant waiting list is the first step to receiving a new organ. Learn what is required to be listed for a new organ on the organ transplant waiting list.
Bilateral Definition
The definition of bilateral. An explanation of the term bilateral.
Cervix Definition
Definition of the cervix
The Definition of Ventilator
Ventilators explained in detail. Why do you need a ventilator, why will a ventilator be used and how does it work.
Vascular Surgery Defined
An explanation of the term vascular surgery.
The Definition of Abscess
An explanation of abscess. The definition of abscess with examples.
Open Surgery Definition
: Open surgery is the traditional type of surgery where a long incision is made for the surgeon to insert
Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is increasingly common. Find out what exactly kidney failure is and how it is treated.
Coughing After Surgery
Coughing after surgery can be very painful, but it is necessary. Find out the correct way to cough after having surgery.
Paralytic
Learn more about paralytic medications and why they are used.
After Transplant
Patients often report difficulty coping after organ transplant surgery. After surgery, patients have family difficulties, stress, worries about rejection, become a discipline problem, have financial difficulties, guilt, money problems, and a lack of support. Learn how to cope after an organ transplant and enjoy your new good health.
The Definition of Surgery
The definition of surgery, including what is surgery and what does surgery mean. Learn what surgery includes, what you need to know before having surgery and much more.
Outpatient Surgery Defined
Outpatient procedure defined.
Oral Surgery Defined
The definition of oral surgery, including the practice of maxillofacial surgery. Includes the types of procedures performed by oral surgeons.
Understanding Anesthesia
Anesthesia is an important part of surgery, know what questions to ask your anesthesiologist before your anesthesia and surgery start. Understanding your risks before having anesthesia is an important part of the decision to have surgery. Find out what questions you should ask before you have anesthesia.

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