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Surgery: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
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.
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.
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.
All About Hysterectomy
Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)about hysterectomy surgery. Find out what to expect before and after a hysterectomy.
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.
Vagina Defined
The definition of vagina, including what the vagina does, where it is located and a vagina image
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thyroid Surgery
Find out what you should expect during your recovery after thyroid surgery, or thyroidectomy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Surgical Emergencies
Learn how to identify warning signs after 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.
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.
Incision Care
Learn how to properly care for an incision, preventing infection and healing quickly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Triple Bypass
Triple bypass heart surgery is a very common procedure. Find out more about triple bypass surgery and why it is performed.
Heart Bypass Surgery
What happens during open heart bypass surgery, how surgery is done, the differences between on and off pump heart 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.
Mastectomy In Detail
What is a modified radical mastectomy surgery and how does it differ from other types of mastectomy surgeries.
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.
Lumpectomy
After breast lumpectomy surgery including normal incision care, normal recovery, the wait for lab results and how to minimize pain and discomfort.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Quadruple Bypass
Quadruple bypass heart surgery explained in detail. Find out what a quadruple bypass surgery is and why it is performed.
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.
Surgery Questions
Before you have surgery there are questions you should ask. Find out what surgery questions you should ask your surgeon.
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.
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.
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.
Pacemaker Surgery
There are many different types of pacemakers available if you have a heart condition. Learn about the different types of pacemakers and how they differ.
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.
Anesthesia Risks
A sore throat is a common side effect of general anesthesia. What causes a sore throat during surgery?
Myringotomy
Find out what happens during a myringotomy, the surgical procedure to insert eustachian tubes into the eardrum.
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.
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.
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.
General Anesthesia
What is general anesthesia, how is it given, why is it given and by whom?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Double Bypass Explained
Double bypass heart surgery explained. Find out what double bypass surgery is and why it is performed.
Preventing Infection
How to prevent infections after your surgery. Learn how to avoid an infection during recovery from 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.
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?
Tonsils and Surgery
Learn about tonsils, tonsillitis and when surgery is necessary. Find out what happens before, during and after tonsillectomy 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.
Hysterectomy Risks Explained
If you are considering hysterectomy surgery, find out the risks of the procedure here.
Vasectomy
After your vasectomy, you will need to be sure that you are no longer fertile before you have unprotected sex.
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.
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.
Hysterectomy Interviews
Find out what you can expect after a hysterectomy. Learn what real women say about their experience with life after hysterectomy
Who Needs a Kidney Transplant?
Kidney stones are one of the many causes of kidney failure, which makes dialysis or a kidney transplant necessary.
Uterus Defined
What is the uterus, where it is located and what it does.
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.
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.
Local Anesthesia
There are several types of anesthesia, local anesthesia is one of the types used for minor procedures.
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.
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.
Lymph Nodes
An explanation of the function of lymph nodes, their location and more.
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.
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
Surgical Specialties
An A-Z list of the different types of surgical specialties and the type of surgery that is practiced.
Endometriosis & Hysterectomy
Endometriosis is a common reason for having a hysterectomy. Endometriosis pain can return after a hysterectomy. Learn more here.
Breast Cancer Surgery
Learn about the surgical options for stage 3 breast cancer. Learn more about the standard treatments for breast cancer by stage.
What is an MRI?
Learn what an MRI does, how it works and why you might need one.
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.
Cervix Definition
Definition of the cervix
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.
Organ Donation
Before you decide to donate an organ to a friend or relative, you should understand the risks that you are facing if you become a donor.
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.
Plastic Surgery Popularity
The ten most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States
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.
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.
Bandage Change
Find out how your healing incision should look and how to spot the signs of infection in your healing wound.
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.
Heart Murmur
Heart murmurs are very common. Learn the different types of heart murmurs and what a heart murmur means.
Oral Surgery Defined
The definition of oral surgery, including the practice of maxillofacial surgery. Includes the types of procedures performed by oral surgeons.
Tonsillith Defined
An explanation of the term tonsillith or tonsil stone. Treatments for tonsilliths.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
After Hysterectomy
Pregnancy after hysterectomy, is isn't possible, or is it? Find out the truth about becoming pregnant after having hysterectomy surgery.
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.
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.
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.
Splenectomy
Learn when is a splenectomy necessary and what conditions make spleen surgery a good idea.
Definition of Podiatry
Podiatry explained. What is podiatry, what does a podiatrist do, when do you need a podiatrist.
Maxillofacial Surgery
Maxillofacial surgery defined.
Laparoscopic Surgery Defined
The definition of laparoscopic 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.
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.
Intubation
The definition of intubation, an explanation of why intubation is done and images of intubation.
Laparoscope
The definition of laparoscope.
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!
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.
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
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.
Organ Transplant Surgery
All types of organ transplant surgery. 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.
Heart Valve Replacements
Considering heart valve replacement? Learn the differences between heart valves and how to choose a replacement heart valve.
Ovary Defined
The definition of ovary.
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.
Hysterectomy Lesa
If you are a young woman considering having hysterectomy surgery, you are not the only one. Find out what you can expect from another young woman who had the surgery in this interview.
Anesthesia Professionals
Anesthesia is given by a wide range of medical personnel, including anesthesiologists, CRNAs, anesthesia assistants and doctors of dentistry.
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.
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.
The Definition of Abscess
An explanation of abscess. The definition of abscess with examples.
Male Breast Cancer
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.
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.
Trauma Surgery Definition
The definition of the surgical specialty of trauma.
Paralytic
Learn more about paralytic medications and why they are used.
Oncology Surgery Definition
The definition of oncology surgery, or surgical oncology.
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.
Uterine Prolapse
If you are considering a hysterectomy, find out what to expect from women who have had a hysterectomy. This interview with a real woman who has had a hysterectomy offers insight into the procedure and advice for yours.
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.
All About Hysterectomy
Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)about hysterectomy surgery. Find out what to expect before and after a hysterectomy.
Beverly Johnson
Beverly Johnson talks about her experience with uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, menopause and her role in the Ask 4 Tell 4 campaign.
What is Regional Anesthesia?
What is regional anesthesia, why it is used and how it 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.
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.
Definition of Ablation
Ablation defined, surgical ablation explained.
Biopsy Definition
What is a biopsy, why is a biopsy performed and what is the purpose of a biopsy.
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