What is general surgery?
General surgery may be defined as a surgical specialty that covers a wide range of operative procedures aimed at diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases throughout the body. It includes several regions that include the skin, breasts, abdomen, peripheral vasculature, head, and neck, among other areas.
This specialty may focus on the abdominal organs that comprises the small and large intestines, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, appendix, spleen, and stomach.
The surgeons who are specialized in performing these surgeries are known as general surgeons. They address the conditions and diseases associated with abdomen, breast, head and neck, blood vessels, digestive tract, injuries, deformities, and other medical concerns.
Types of general surgery
Majorly, two types of general surgeries are there, that includes:
- Open surgery: It may be defined as a surgical procedure in which skin and tissues are removed to provide complete access to the structures or organs. It involves the removal of organs such as the gallbladder or kidneys.
- Minimally invasive surgery: It may be defined as a surgical procedure that does not require major incision. It also helps the patient in faster recovery and less discomfort. All conditions are not appropriate for minimally invasive surgery.
Several surgical techniques fall under minimally invasive surgery, that includes:
- Laparoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Arthroscopy
- Bronchoscopy
- Cystoscopy
- Gastroscopy
- Hysteroscopy
- Laryngoscopy
- Sigmoidoscopy
Based on diagnosis, both open and minimally invasive surgery may incorporate alternative techniques in addition to standard surgical instruments:
- Laser surgery
- Electrosurgery