Methods of Surgery

With technical advances today, surgery does not necessarily mean large incisions, as in the past. Depending on the type of surgery, there are several surgery methods that may be performed:

Open surgery

An "open" surgery means the cutting of skin and tissues so that the surgeon has a full view of the structures or organs involved. Examples of open surgery are the removal of the organs, such as the gallbladder or kidneys.

Minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive surgery is any technique involved in surgery that does not require a large incision. This relatively new approach allows the patient to recuperate faster with less pain. Not all conditions are suitable for minimally invasive surgery. Many surgery techniques now fall under minimally invasive surgery:

Other surgical techniques

In addition to using traditional surgical knives in surgery, both open and minimally invasive surgery can use the following alternative techniques, depending on diagnosis:

• Laser surgery - A laser is a device that emits a concentrated beam of light radiation. A laser beam can cauterize a wound, repair damaged tissue, or destroy cells under the beam, allowing for cutting through tissue without damaging neighboring cells. Laser has been used in place of surgical cutting instruments in various surgeries, including eye surgery, gynecological procedures, removal of skin marks, and excising small tumors.
• Electrosurgery - Surgery can also be performed with electrical instruments that operate on high-frequency electric currents. Examples of electrosurgery include electrocoagulation (which hardens tissue) and electrodesiccation (the destroying of tissue with an electric current for such things as removing small growths).