Surgery Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information about Common Inpatient and Outpatient Surgeries »

According to the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 75 million inpatient and outpatient surgeries are performed annually in the United States. Surgical procedures are often necessary to prevent or relieve pain, reduce problematic symptoms, improve body functioning, or search for signs of disease. Although making informed health care decisions about surgical procedures can be frustrating and confusing, research shows that patients who take time to learn about treatments prior to surgery often feel more satisfied with the outcome.

Surgery Sourcebook, Second Edition provides updated information about common types of surgical procedures-including oral, eye, gastrointestinal, gynecologic and obstetric, head and neck, heart and vascular, orthopedic, cosmetic and reconstructive, and urological surgeries-associated risks, and potential complications. Postsurgical healing and recovery concerns, such as caring for wounds, managing pain, and maintaining adequate nutrition, are discussed, and tips for choosing a surgeon, getting a second opinion, and paying for procedures, are included. A discussion of surgical innovations and current controversies is also provided, and the book concludes with a glossary of related terms and a directory of resources.

Pt. I Before Your Operation: An Introduction to Surgery and Surgical Procedures

Ch. 1 What You Need to Know If You're Having Surgery 3

Ch. 2 Types of Surgeons and Selected Specialties 11

Ch. 3 Approaches to Surgery 17

Ch. 4 Surgery Statistics: Most Popular Procedures and Surgical Trends 23

Ch. 5 Getting a Second Opinion before Surgery: Your Choices 29

Ch. 6 Guide to Health Care Quality 33

Ch. 7 How to Pay for Surgery 47

Ch. 8 Hospitalization for Surgery 55

Ch. 9 Hospital Choice and Surgical Patient Death Rates 69

Ch. 10 Frequently Asked Questions about Ambulatory Surgery Centers 75

Ch. 11 Guided Imagery May Reduce Preoperative Anxiety 79

Ch. 12 Just in Case: Preparations to Make before Undergoing Surgery 83

Ch. 13 Sedation and Anesthesia 89

Ch. 14 Surgical Considerations in Children and Adolescents 107

Pt. II Common Surgeries and Surgical Procedures

Ch. 15 Dental, Oral, and Maxillofacial Surgery 123

Ch. 16 Eye Surgery 131

Ch. 17 Gastrointestinal Surgery for Acute or Chronic Conditions 157

Ch. 18 Gastrointestinal Surgery for Severe Obesity 187

Ch. 19 Weight-Loss Surgery in Children and Teens 205

Ch. 20 Gynecological and Obstetric Surgery 211

Ch. 21 Surgery of the Head and Neck 233

Ch. 22 Implantable Devices for Heart Problems 251

Ch. 23 Heart and Vascular Surgery 257

Ch. 24 Surgery of the Nerves, Bones, Muscles, and Joints 285

Ch. 25 Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery 307

Ch. 26 Most Popular Cosmetic Surgeries 323

Ch. 27 Urological Surgery 351

Ch. 28 Surgery for Cancer 363

Ch. 29 Emergency, Critical Care, or Traumatic Surgical Procedures 383

Ch. 30 Organ Transplant Surgery 393

Pt. III Risks and ComplicationsThat May Occur during or after Surgery

Ch. 31 Surgical Infections 413

Ch. 32 Bleeding during Surgery 421

Ch. 33 Surgical Adverse Events Associated with Medications, Supplements, or Herbs 435

Ch. 34 Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: Serious Complications from Surgery 445

Ch. 35 Immunosuppression: Impaired Immune Response Could Cause Surgery Complications 451

Ch. 36 Smoking Increases the Risk of Problems during Surgery 457

Ch. 37 The Importance of Blood Sugar Control before and after Surgery 461

Ch. 38 Surgery Carries Risk of Cognitive Dysfunction 465

Ch. 39 Medication Errors Injure Millions and Cost Billions Annually 469

Ch. 40 Doctor Fatigue Hurts Patients 475

Ch. 41 Avoiding Errors during Surgery and Hospitalization 479

Pt. IV Post-Surgical Healing and Recovery Concerns

Ch. 42 What You Need to Know about Pain Control after Surgery 495

Ch. 43 Nondrug Methods to Control Pain 505

Ch. 44 Acupuncture's Effect on Postsurgical Pain 513

Ch. 45 Reducing Children's Pain from Surgery: Tips for Parents 517

Ch. 46 Surgical Wound Care: Questions and Answers 521

Ch. 47 Care of the Jackson-Pratt (JP) Drain 525

Ch. 48 Using an Incentive Spirometer 529

Ch. 49 Nutrition after Surgery 533

Ch. 50 Other Postsurgical Concerns 555

Pt. V Surgical Innovations and Controversies

Ch. 51 Computer-Assisted Surgery: What Is the da Vinci Surgical System? 565

Ch. 52 Robots Lend Surgeons a Helping Hand 569

Ch. 53 Stereotactic Radiosurgery 579

Ch. 54 Cutting-Edge Surgical Techniques 583

Ch. 55 Surgical Trends and Controversies 589

Pt. VI Additional Help and Information

Ch. 56 Glossary of Terms Related to Surgery 601

Ch. 57 Directory of Agencies That Provide Information about Surgery 607

Index 619