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Surgery: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
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.
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.
Hysterectomy
What is a hysterectomy and why do you need one, if you need one at all? Is a hysterectomy optional or is it necessary? What will your sex life be like after surgery and is it true your sex life will improve? What are the alternatives to a hysterectomy that you should try before surgery. Learn all about hysterectomy surgery and what it means to you in this article.
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.
All About Hysterectomy
Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)about hysterectomy surgery. Find out what to expect before and after a hysterectomy.
Vagina Defined
The definition of vagina, including what the vagina does, where it is located and a vagina image
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.
Hiatal Hernias
Find out what happens during hiatal hernia surgery, known as a Nissen Fundoplication.
Liver Enzyme Tests
Liver enzymes are an important way to measure the function of your liver. Find out what normal liver enzyme and liver function levels are and what can change your results.
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.
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 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.
Epigastric Hernia
What is an epigastric hernia, what causes an epigastric hernia and how is it treated.
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.
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.
Surgical Emergencies
Learn how to identify warning signs after your surgery.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gallbladder Surgery Explained
If you are having trouble with your gallbladder, your physician may recommend surgery. Learn about having your gallbladder removed with the laparoscopic method.
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.
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.
Laparotomy
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.
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.
Incision Care
Learn how to properly care for an incision, preventing infection and healing quickly.
Thyroid Surgery
Find out what you should expect during your recovery after thyroid surgery, or thyroidectomy.
Vertical Gastrectomy Details
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.
CBC Test
Learn what a CBC blood test is and what the results mean, along with other common blood tests.
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.
Mastectomy In Detail
What is a modified radical mastectomy surgery and how does it differ from other types of mastectomy surgeries.
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.
Heart Bypass Surgery
What happens during open heart bypass surgery, how surgery is done, the differences between on and off pump heart surgery
Anesthesia Explained
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. There are many types of anesthesia including general, regional, local, monitored, epidural, spinal and more.
Hernia and Surgery
Hernias are 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. Do you need surgery for your hernia? Do you have a hernia?
Quadruple Bypass
Quadruple bypass heart surgery explained in detail. Find out what a quadruple bypass surgery is and why it is performed.
Bleeding After Hysterectomy
Are you experiencing bleeding after having a hysterectomy? Find out when bleeding after a hysterectomy is normal and when the bleeding may indicate a serious problem.
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.
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.
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.
Lumpectomy
What is a lumpectomy, why is it performed and when is a lumpectomy an option instead of a mastectomy.
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.
Anesthesia Risks
A sore throat is a common side effect of general anesthesia. What causes a sore throat during surgery?
Who Needs a Kidney Transplant?
Kidney stones are one of the many causes of kidney failure, which makes dialysis or a kidney transplant necessary.
Triple Bypass
Triple bypass heart surgery is a very common procedure. Find out more about triple bypass surgery and why it is performed.
Prevent Scars
Ways to prevent and minimize scarring after surgery.
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.
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.
Diarrhea Cholecystectomy
Diarrhea after gallbladder surgery can be a serious problem. Find out why this common side effect happens and what to do about diarrhea after gallbladder surgery.
Surgery to Remove the Appendix
Learn what to expect when you need an appendectomy to have your appendix removed. An appendectomy is considered an emergency surgery, which means there is a chance of death without the surgery.
Breast Reconstruction
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.
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.
Tonsils and Surgery
Learn about tonsils, tonsillitis and when surgery is necessary. Find out what happens before, during and after tonsillectomy surgery.
General Anesthesia
What is general anesthesia, how is it given, why is it given and by whom?
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.
Vasectomy
After your vasectomy, you will need to be sure that you are no longer fertile before you have unprotected sex.
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.
Lymph Nodes
An explanation of the function of lymph nodes, their location and more.
Pacemaker Surgery
After your pacemaker surgery comes recovery time. Find out what you can expect after your pacemaker surgery is over.
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.
Myringotomy
Find out what happens during a myringotomy, the surgical procedure to insert eustachian tubes into the eardrum.
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.
Preventing Infection
How to prevent infections after your surgery. Learn how to avoid an infection during recovery from surgery.
Hand Washing
Learn how to prevent infections with proper hand washing techniques. There is a right way to wash your hands!
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.
Surgery Questions
Before you have surgery there are questions you should ask. Find out what surgery questions you should ask your surgeon.
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.
Hysterectomy Risks Explained
If you are considering hysterectomy surgery, find out the risks of the procedure here.
Hysterectomy Interviews
Find out what you can expect after a hysterectomy. Learn what real women say about their experience with life after hysterectomy
Breast Cancer Surgery
Learn about the surgical options available for patients with stage zero breast cancer. Also known as stage 0 and precancer, stage 0 breast cancer is serious and usually requires surgery.
What is Monitored Anesthesia?
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC), often referred to as twilight sleep, is a type of light anesthesia used for minor procedures.
Local Anesthesia
There are several types of anesthesia, local anesthesia is one of the types used for minor procedures.
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.
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.
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.
Double Bypass Explained
Double bypass heart surgery explained. Find out what double bypass surgery is and why it is performed.
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. Learn more about weight loss surgery and how to qualify for bariatric surgery.
Surgical Specialties
An A-Z list of the different types of surgical specialties and the type of surgery that is practiced.
What is an MRI?
Learn what an MRI does, how it works and why you might need one.
Bandage Change
Find out how your healing incision should look and how to spot the signs of infection in your healing wound.
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?
Oophorectomy Risks
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.
Surgery Drugs
Learn more about surgery drugs, the drugs typically used before surgery, during surgery and after surgery. A list of commonly used surgery drugs and the reasons they are used is here, including antibiotics, anesthesia drugs and more.
Plastic Surgery Popularity
The ten most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States
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.
Diabetes and Surgery
Know how to spot an infection after surgery before it is out of control. As a diabetic, the risk of infection is higher for you. Know how to protect yourself after your surgery with these signs of infection. Do you have a fever? Do you have pain or redness at your incision?
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.
Uterus Defined
What is the uterus, where it is located and what it does.
Financing a New Organ
Paying for organ transplants can be extremely expensive. Learn about the various ways to fund an organ transplant, including government assistance for an organ transplant, veteran's benefits, fundraising, and private insurance.
Endometriosis & Hysterectomy
Endometriosis is a common reason for having a hysterectomy. Endometriosis pain can return after a hysterectomy. Learn more here.
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
Sex Change
Learn more about sex change surgery, what a sex change surgery is, why it is done and more.
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.
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.
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.
Atherosclerosis Explained
Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are not the same thing. Learn the differences between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis and why they may make heart surgery necessary.
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.
Tonsillith Defined
An explanation of the term tonsillith or tonsil stone. Treatments for tonsilliths.
After Hysterectomy
Pregnancy after hysterectomy, is isn't possible, or is it? Find out the truth about becoming pregnant after having hysterectomy surgery.
Understanding the Lap-Band
Adjustable gastric banding, or Lap Band weight loss surgery, is a type of restrictive weight loss surgery that is performed laparoscopically using minimal incisions. Learn more about the safest type of weight loss surgery, how the Lap Band works, Lap Band images, long term success of the procedure and average weight loss with the Lap Band.
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.
Oral Surgery Defined
The definition of oral surgery, including the practice of maxillofacial surgery. Includes the types of procedures performed by oral surgeons.
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.
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.
Laparoscopic Surgery Defined
The definition of laparoscopic surgery
Cervix Definition
Definition of the cervix
Life Saving Procedures
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.
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.
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.
Anesthesia Professionals
Anesthesia is given by a wide range of medical personnel, including anesthesiologists, CRNAs, anesthesia assistants and doctors of dentistry.
Intubation
The definition of intubation, an explanation of why intubation is done and images of intubation.
What is Regional Anesthesia?
What is regional anesthesia, why it is used and how it is used.
Maze Procedure
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.
Wound Opening After Surgery
What should you do if your surgical wound begins to open up? If your wound begins to "pop" open, a condition known as dehiscence, you need to know what to do about it.
Organ Transplant Surgery
The definition of transplant surgery.
Congenital Defined
An explanation of the term congenital, including congenital birth defects and congenital diseases.
Weight Loss Surgery 101
What is weight loss surgery and do you qualify for surgery? How will you pay for your weight loss surgery? Do you know the risks of weight loss surgery as well as the rewards? Learn more about all types of weight loss surgery, the most common complications and the long term success of roux-en-y, lap-band, duodenal switch and other types of weight loss surgery.
Heart Valves
There are four valves in the human heart. Find out how the heart valves function, their location and more.
Heart Murmur
Heart murmurs are very common. Learn the different types of heart murmurs and what a heart murmur means.
Beverly Johnson
Beverly Johnson talks about her experience with uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, menopause and her role in the Ask 4 Tell 4 campaign.
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.
Splenectomy
Learn when is a splenectomy necessary and what conditions make spleen surgery a good idea.
DS Gastric Bypass
The Duodenal Switch is a type of gastric bypass surgery for weight loss. Similar to roux-en-y, this type of gastric bypass is one of the most successful types of weight loss surgery. If you are thinking about having gastric bypass surgery you owe it to yourself to learn about this the duodenal switch gastric bypass procedure. Also known as BDP, mini bypass and gastric bypass.
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.
General Surgery Definition
The definition of general surgery, with the practice of general surgeons explained.
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 when having anesthesia is an important part of the decision to have surgery.
Open Surgery Definition
The definition of "open" surgery.
Weight Loss Surgery Risks
There are significant risks associated with weight loss surgery, ranging from difficulty eating to death. Find out about dumping syndrome, infections risks, chronic diarrhea and malnutrition risks before you have surgery. Understand the risks of weight loss surgery before you make your decision.
Inpatient Surgery
Inpatient surgery defined.
Definition of Ablation
Ablation defined, surgical ablation explained.
Laparoscope
The definition of laparoscope.
Trauma Surgery Definition
The definition of the surgical specialty of trauma.
Paralytic
Learn more about paralytic medications and why they are used.
The Definition of Abscess
An explanation of abscess. The definition of abscess with examples.
Diprivan (Propofol) Explained
Diprivan Explained. What is Diprivan? Why is Diprivan Used? Should I be concerned if I'm receiving Diprivan during surgery? Find out more about Diprivan.
Heart Valve Replacements
Considering heart valve replacement? Learn the differences between heart valves and how to choose a replacement heart valve.
Mammogram Defined
A mammogram is a test performed to examine breast tissue. Learn more about what a mammogram is, how it is performed and why.
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.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is a type of bypass weight loss surgery that changes the size of the stomach and the amount of food the small intestine can absorb. Gastric bypass is the most widely performed weight loss surgery and excellent long-term outcomes. Total weight loss is excellent with gastric bypass surgery
Maxillofacial Surgery
Maxillofacial surgery defined.
Diaphragmatic Hernias
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.
Who Should Have a Pap Smear?
Do I need a Pap smear after a hysterectomy? Who should have a pap smear? Do lesbians need Pap smears?
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.
Biopsy Definition
What is a biopsy, why is a biopsy performed and what is the purpose of a biopsy.
Fallopian Tubes
Fallopian tubes defined.
Colon Rectal Surgery Defined
An explanation of the surgical specialty of colon rectal surgery.
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.
Sepsis Explained
Sepsis after surgery can be a life-threatening complication. What is sepsis, what causes sepsis and what is done to treat sepsis. Understand when sepsis becomes septic shock and the treatments necessary.
Dilaudid
Have you been prescribed Dilaudid (Hydromorphone)? Wondering what you can expect when you take Dilaudid or about Dilaudid's side effects? Find out what you need to know here.
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!
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