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Surgery

Surgery is a technology consisting of a physical intervention on tissues. As a general rule, a procedure is considered surgical when it involves cutting of a patient's tissues or closure of a previously sustained wound. Other procedures that do not necessarily fall under this rubric, such as angioplasty or endoscopy, may be considered surgery if they involve "common" surgical procedure or settings, such as use of a sterile environment, anesthesia, antiseptic conditions, typical surgical instruments, and suturing or stapling. All forms of surgery are considered invasive procedures; so-called "noninvasive surgery" usually refers to an excision that does not penetrate the structure being excised (e.g. laser ablation of the cornea) or to a radiosurgical procedure (e.g. irradiation of a tumor).

Listen to conversations about Surgery:

Surgery for Epilepsy

Surgery for epilepsy is a good option for the right people. The risks are small and the benefits can be large. Surgery should be considered in the 10% of people with epilepsy who have seizures after two different medicines.

Surgery and Weight Management

Weight management requires exercise and decreased caloric intake. Surgery can decrease stomach size or decrease absorbed calories. Success still requires changes in behavior.

Approaches to Abdominal Surgery

Dr. Jeffrey Sternberg, a colorectal surgeon, discusses abdominal surgery, and describes how decisions should be made by your surgeon about whether or not laparoscopy can be done for any specific procedure.  A few small incisions allow a camera, lights and … Continue reading →

Voice Prostheses

You needn’t live in silence even if your larynx is removed. Dr. Mark Singer, a head and neck surgeon, describes how people who need total removal of the larynx, the natural voice box, can regain speech.