General & Emergency Surgery

Despite increasing specialization in all fields of medicine, general surgery still accounts for a majority of operations performed in the United States. Emergency surgeries, some of which are also general surgeries, represent another large percentage.

Definitions

• According to the American College of Surgeons, general surgery encompasses a broad range of procedures on all parts of the body and does not require training beyond general surgery residency. General surgeries consist of both elective and emergency operations. Not limited to general procedures, emergency surgeries, essential to save life or limb or to avoid impending danger to the patient, often require specialist intervention.

Examples of General Surgery

• Despite great variability in procedures, general surgeons most often operate on superficial structures and intra-abdominal organs. Examples include thyroid surgery, breast surgery, skin lesion removal, gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery.

Examples of Emergency Surgery

• Emergency surgery conjures visions of trauma. Trauma operations do comprise some emergent situations but are not the majority. Other emergencies include fractures with protruding bone, blockages in the heart or neck blood vessels and bleeding in the brain.

Emergency General Surgeries

• Emergent general surgeries include appendectomies, hernia repair when the bowel is trapped, excision of dead intestines and repair of bleeding ulcers.