Different illnesses respond best to different treatments. Typically, doctors use noninvasive approaches to manage disease whenever possible. However, with certain medical conditions, surgical intervention is the best way to provide relief or reduce the risk for serious complications. Common general surgery procedures that meet these objectives include hernia repair, appendectomy, gallbladder removal and hysterectomy.
Hernia Repair
A hernia is an abnormal opening or tear in the abdominal wall. The abdominal wall runs from the lower end of the ribcage to the legs. It is composed of layers of muscle and a tough, fibrous tissue called fascia. Together, these tissues hold the small and large intestines firmly in place within the abdomen. A hernia occurs when a natural opening in the abdominal wall expands, or a tear develops. The intestines push through the opening causing a lump. Straining during heavy lifting, coughing or having a bowel movement typically causes a hernia to bulge forth, advises the Mayo Clinic. Hernias tend to increase in size over time. Common locations for hernias include the groin area, the umbilicus or belly button, and along surgical scars of the abdomen. Hernia repair is a common surgical procedure, which involves sewing the hole closed and reinforcing the weakened area of the abdominal wall with synthetic materials. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports approximately 171,700 hernia repair surgeries were performed in the United States in 2003.
Appendectomy
The appendix is a small sac attached to the beginning of the large intestine in the lower right abdomen. The appendix can become infected with bacteria and inflamed, a condition known as appendicitis. Symptoms of appendicitis include abdominal pain, tenderness and fever. The American College of Surgeons advises that an infected appendix can rupture, causing infection of the normally sterile abdominal cavity; this condition can be life threatening. When appendicitis is suspected, the appendix is usually removed in a surgical procedure known as an appendectomy. According to AHRQ, more than 139,000 people in the United States had appendectomies in 2003.
Gallbladder Removal
Among people with severe or recurring gallbladder attacks, gallbladder removal may be advisable to avoid potentially serious complications such as pancreatitis or gallbladder rupture, notes the American College of Surgeons. Surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy. AHRQ reports more than 295,000 cholecystectomies were performed in the United States in 2003.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is the term for surgical removal of the womb or uterus. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explains therapeutic hysterectomy may be undertaken for a variety of conditions including endometriosis, chronic uterine bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, uterine fibroids and cancer. The American College of Surgeons reports more than 75 percent of women undergoing hysterectomy are 20 to 50 years of age. According to AHRQ, more than 209,000 American women had hysterectomies in 2003.
About this Author
Tina Andrews has been a medical writer and editor since 2000. She has published in “Cancer,” “Ethnicity & Disease,” and “Liver Health Today,” and was formerly a medical officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Andrews holds a Doctor of Medicine degree and a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry.
