Surgery (definition of)

Surgery is the branch of medicine in which disease, like mesothelioma, and injuries are treated manually with the use of mechanical instruments. It may be major or minor in nature.

Minor surgery in non-invasive, and includes tonsillectomies, vasectomies, laser eye surgery and in most cases, hemorrhoid removal. These are usually outpatient procedures, and can sometimes be performed in a doctor's office. Only local anesthesia is used, and recovery takes only a few days at most.

Major surgery requires the use of general anesthesia and involves the penetration of body. These procedures are usually performed by a team of specialists. Depending on the type of surgery performed, patients in most industrialized nations can expect an extended hospital stay (in the U.S., patients are usually discharged at the earliest opportunity in order to save money for private insurers) and recovery can take several weeks.

Surgery may also be elective. Today, those who can afford it and are dissatisfied with their appearance often choose to undergo any number of cosmetic procedures in order to change the size of the breasts or nose, reduce signs of aging and more. Not all cosmetic surgery is so frivolous; victims of trauma and burn injuries often must undergo reconstructive surgery not only in order to restore appearance, but to restore function as well.

In earlier times, surgery was performed by barbers; before the development of anesthesia and sanitation, the result was usually fatal. Technological advances in medical science have improved techniques immeasurably; lasers have replaced scalpels in many cases, and sterile rooms greatly reduce the rate of infection.

Surgery still involves a certain amount of risk, however. Complications can include hemorrhaging, reaction to anesthesia, pain and in some cases, death.