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There are several different kinds of surgery that can be performed for a number of different reasons. Some are entirely elective, meaning that the patient chooses to undergo a procedure that he or she doesn't need. Other types of surgery may be necessary to save the patient's life. There are even exploratory surgeries that don't treat anything and are instead used to diagnose a medical condition.

Some types of surgery are more invasive than others. Some require the patient to be put under a general anesthetic and can take hours, while others only require a local anesthetic and can be completed in minutes. Medical technology has changed greatly over the years, giving doctors the ability to perform complex surgical procedures that may not have been possible a hundred years ago. Listed here are the most common surgical procedures, divided into specific categories.

Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy refers to any type of exploratory surgery in which a tube-like viewing instrument called an arthroscope is inserted under the skin, through tiny incisions. Doctors can use the tiny camera at the end of the arthroscope to look for abnormalities and diagnose medical conditions in joints or other parts of the body. In some instances, arthroscopy can be used to treat conditions, however, the procedure is more often exploratory.

Elective Surgery
An elective surgery is used to treat a non-life-threatening condition, at the request of a patient. Many elective surgeries are performed to correct a physical deformity or otherwise alter the appearance of the patient. A semi-elective surgery is a procedure that is performed to avoid permanent disability or death, but can still be postponed for a short period of time.

Minimally Invasive Surgery
Many surgical procedures are categorized by invasiveness. A minimally invasive surgery may only require tiny incisions to be made and can be completed using miniature surgical instruments. A number of minimally invasive procedures can be performed using a local anesthetic that only numbs one area of the body, while leaving the patient conscious. Minimally invasive surgery often doesn't require a hospital stay, as many can be performed as outpatient procedures.

Open Surgical Procedure
An open surgical procedure is the opposite of a minimally invasive procedure. These operations require a large incision, that opens the area of interest to the surgeon. These procedures must be done using a general anesthesia that leaves the patient unconscious for the duration of the operation. They must also be performed in a hospital setting and can last for hours.

Amputation and Replantation
An amputation is the removal of a body part, usually a limb or a digit. This can be done for a number of reasons, but the most common is because the part in question has become septic and threatens the life of the patient. By contrast, replantation involves reattaching a severed body part and restoring its regular function.

Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive surgery is performed to repair a deformity caused by an injury or disease. These procedures can be elective if the deformity is not life-threatening or debilitating. Nonetheless, they are intended to improve the quality of the patient's life by restoring function, as well as appearance.

Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery refers to a number of elective procedures that alter the appearance of the patient. These include facelifts, breast implants, rhinoplasty, liposuction and any other operation that alters the patient's appearance. These range from minimally invasive outpatient procedures to more invasive operations that may require a hospital stay and lengthy recovery period.

The different kinds of surgical procedures that can be performed today are numerous. New technology has helped to ensure these processes are safer and quicker than they were years ago.

 

This article was written by Sheldon Armstrong, a regular contributor here at INFOtainment News. He writes this on behalf of Klasinski Clinic Orthopaedics, your number one choice when looking for arthroscopy to treat your joint. Check out their website today and see how they can help you!


Sheldon Armstrong

Sheldon Armstrong is a regular contributor for INFOtainment News. He loves writing about technology and keeping up with the latest gadgets on the market. In addition, he contributes articles covering a wide range of topics together with his friends who appear as guest writers every now and then.

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Sheldon Armstrong

Sheldon Armstrong is a regular contributor for INFOtainment News. He loves writing about technology and keeping up with the latest gadgets on the market. In addition, he contributes articles covering a wide range of topics together with his friends who appear as guest writers every now and then.

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