Understanding Surgical Procedures and Classifications

Understanding Surgical Procedures

This document identifies different types of surgical procedures and their classifications.

Types of Surgical Procedures

Surgery can be classified as major or minor, based on factors such as the severity of the disease, affected body parts, the complexity of the operation, and expected recovery time.

Major Surgery

Major surgery involves procedures of the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen. Recovery time can be lengthy and may involve a stay in intensive care or several days of hospitalization. These surgeries carry a greater risk of complications. In children, examples of major surgery include:

• Removal of brain tumors
• Repair of bone malformations of the skull and face
• Repair of congenital heart disease, organ transplantation, and repair of intestinal malformations
• Repair of spinal anomalies and treatment of injuries sustained from major blunt trauma
• Correction of problems in fetal development of the lungs, intestines, diaphragm, or anus.

Minor Surgery

Minor surgery procedures have a short recovery time, allowing patients to return quickly to normal activities. These surgeries typically do not require hospitalization, and patients can return home the same day. Complications are rare with these types of surgery. Examples of common minor surgical procedures include:

• Tympanostomy tube insertion ("diabolo" or "grommet")
• Hernia repair
• Repair of bone fractures
• Removal of skin lesions
• Tumor biopsy

Elective Surgery

Elective surgery refers to procedures that can be useful but are not essential, often performed based on parental choice. Examples include the removal of birthmarks or circumcision in male infants.

Required Surgery

Required surgery involves procedures that are necessary to ensure a child's future quality of life. An example is performing a spinal fusion to correct severe curvature of the spine. Unlike emergency surgery, it is not necessary to perform required surgery immediately, allowing time to prepare the child.

Emergency or Urgent Surgery

Emergency or urgent surgery is performed due to an an immediate medical need. Examples include the repair of a life-threatening congenital heart defect or the repair of internal organ injuries sustained after a car accident.