Surgery - Medicine

Surgery definition states that it is a branch of medicine concerned with treating disease, disorders, injuries, and other surgical treatments either by instrumental or manual means. Surgery employs management and the operation of acute illness, conditions, or damages as differentiated from chronic disorders. A medical surgeon performs a surgery involving abrading, suturing, cutting, or sometimes even when otherwise physically changing body organs and tissues. A surgical process is done through lasers, ultrasound, scalpels, probes, needles, etc.

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A Brief on History

Surgery dates back to centuries, where ancient civilizations implemented the practice of surgery. However, with increasing knowledge of the surgical procedure, the practice was established in the 18th century. After the inception of Anesthesia in 1814, an abrupt increase accentuated the frequency and severity of surgical infections and procedures. 

In India, surgeries were performed when no diagnostic facilities were available due to the active role of the ancient Indian physician, Sushruta. He is considered the 'Father of medical surgical nursing' or the 'Father of Indian Medicine' to invent and develop surgical procedures. The title 'Father of medical surgical nursing' was given due to the immense contribution to surgery medicine.

Branches of Medicine

Before asking, 'What is surgery?', we need to understand and hold some knowledge of medicine's various branches. A few common branches of medicine popular in India are - 

• General Medicine

The branch of general medicine deals with diagnosing and treating diagnosed disorders like anaemia, diabetics, gastroenteritis, asthma, stroke, hypertension, etc. 

• Forensic Medicine

Forensic medicine deals with the study of the crime sections, post-mortems, and other legal areas. 

• Obstetrics and Gynaecology

This medicine branch encompasses a wide array of care, including the maintenance of pregnant women, Surgery, gynecologic care, primary health of a woman, and oncology.

• Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology is the branch dedicated to pain relief. Here, patients receive the drug before, during, and after a surgical procedure by causing insensibility during pain.

• Paediatrics

Paediatrics is the diagnosis and treatment of patients from infancy through adolescence for common childhood diseases, such as asthma, allergies, and croup.

• Cardiology

Cardiology deals with studying the heart and blood vessels' health and the procedure involved in the treatment.

• Neurology

Neurology is the speciality within the medical field about nerves and the nervous system and implements treatments for the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, etc. 

• Urology

Urology is the healthcare segment that cares for the human urinary tract, including kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra and even sex organs.

Types of Surgery

With the advancements in surgical treatments and branches of medicine, different types of surgery help solve from chronic to slow progressing diseases or illnesses. 

• Breast Surgery

Breast surgery can either be breast augmentation surgery or breast reduction surgery. Breast augmentation surgery is implemented in breast cancer to either correct a breast defect or increase breast size. Breast reduction surgery is a process to decrease breast size and lift the breasts.

• Colon and Rectal Surgery

Colon and rectal surgery is done to treat disorders and help preserve bowel functions like anal cancer, anal fistula, colon cancer, haemorrhoids, rectal cancer, and more. 

• Endocrine Surgery

Endocrine Surgery deals with endocrine organs. This branch performs surgical procedures like minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, thyroid and laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

• General Surgery

General Surgery is done for those who face complex issues by implementing minimally invasive and innovative surgical procedures or techniques.

• Gynaecological Surgery

If you have a gynaecological condition, then a surgical procedure like Endometrial Ablation, Tubal Ligation, Gynecologic Cancer, UAE, and Interventional Radiology is implemented. 

• Neurosurgery

A medical surgeon performs neurosurgery when dealing with the brain or other parts of the nervous system. Neurosurgery procedures include microdiscectomies, brain tumours, thermal techniques, and minimally invasive spine surgeries. 

• Ophthalmological Surgery

Ophthalmological Surgery makes use of laser technology to perform operations and promote fast recovery. The most common ophthalmological procedures are cataract surgery, retinal procedures, glaucoma, strabismus, corneal and ocular-plastic surgeries.

• Outpatient Surgery

Outpatient Surgery is also referred to as ambulatory surgery and comprises a wide range of routine or minor conditions that do not require an overnight stay in the hospital. A few common outpatient surgeries are laparoscopy, breast biopsy, prostate surgery, lung resection, vasectomy, and more. 

• Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric Surgery is facilitated toward younger patients requiring surgery medicine. Most pediatric surgeons perform both outpatient and inpatient surgeries and pre-surgical testing and consultations.  

• Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery uses traditional open surgical techniques and minimally invasive surgical options to conduct procedures like pleural tumours surgery, lung airway surgery, pulmonary lobectomy, and other related surgeries. 

• Urologic Surgery

This surgical type deals with urologic conditions. It presents treatments through minimally invasive surgical techniques like laser methodologies, lithotripsy, bladder procedure, kidney cancer treatment, and kidney stones.