Related Health Information
Surgical Overview
Surgery, as defined by the American Medical Association, is the treatment of disease, injury or other disorders by direct physical intervention, usually with instruments. Surgery involves cutting into the skin or other organs to accomplish any of the following goals:
- further explore the condition for diagnosis
- take a biopsy of a suspicious lump
- remove diseased tissues or organs
- correct an obstruction
- reposition structures to their normal position
- redirect channels
- transplant tissue or whole organs
- implant mechanical or electronic devices
- improve physical appearance
Every year, many children undergo surgery. Some operations are elective procedures, some are required procedures, and some are emergency responses to urgent medical conditions. A family should be prepared for each of the stages of surgery including:
- surgical diagnosis - made after a physical examination, medical tests and evaluations reveal a condition requiring surgery
- preoperative management - begins when surgery is decided on and ends when your child is brought to the operating room
- intraoperative care - lasts from the time your child enters the operating room to when he/she goes to the recovery room
- postoperative management - lasts from the time your child enters the recovery room until follow-up clinical evaluation is done
Use the directory to the left to learn more about surgery and the surgical process.
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