Definitions
Breast surgery may involve any of a variety of surgical procedures carried out on the breasts of women (generally) and men. These procedures may include removing a sample of tissue from a breast
tumour (abnormal growth), as well as removing malignant (cancerous) tumours. Surgery may also include breast reconstruction following a mastectomy (breast removal) for breast cancer. The surgeons who perform this type of breast reconstruction may be breast oncology (cancer) surgeons or plastic surgeons. (Surgeons trained in both specialities are known as oncoplastic surgeons.) Some breast surgeons also do cosmetic breast surgery, including enlargement and reduction.moreThe colon (or large bowel/large intestine) starts at the end of the small intestine and ends at the rectum and anus. In a colonoscopy a long flexible tube (a colonoscope) is threaded up through the
rectum and transmits an image to a viewing screen. The lining of the colon and rectum can be inspected for such things as inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers. Colonoscopy is most often used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum, and for causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits. If an abnormal growth, such as a polyp (a stalk-shaped growth or lump), is found, a small piece may be taken for examination (biopsy) or it may be removed. Thorough cleansing of the bowel is necessary before a colonoscopy. You will be given pain medication and a moderate sedative to keep you comfortable during the examination.moreThe endocrine system consists of several glands (groups of cells), in different parts of the body, which discharge hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones have many different important
functions and ways of acting on organs of the body. During endocrine surgery procedures are performed on endocrine glands, usually to increase or decrease hormonal effects in the body. It often involves removing a tumour that has grown on or within an endocrine gland. Common endocrine surgery operations are removal of the thyroid gland located in the neck (thyroidectomy) and removal of the parathyroid glands located near the thyroid gland (parathyroidectomy). More rarely, surgery may remove one or both of the adrenal glands located near the kidneys (adrenalectomy).moreEndoscopy involves examining the inside of the body with an endoscope, a lighted, flexible instrument that has a small camera on the tip. There are many types of endoscopes, and endoscopy, named
according to the organs or areas they are used to examine (e.g. arthroscopy examines joints; bronchoscopy examines the lungs; cystoscopy examines the bladder and urethra; laparoscopy may examine the ovaries, appendix or other abdominal organs; colonoscopy examines the bowel). An endoscope is passed through a natural body opening (e.g. mouth) or a small incision. Small instruments can be inserted through an endoscope and used to take samples of tissues for analysis (biopsy), to remove material (e.g. removing polyps during a colonoscopy), or to carry out a surgical procedure.moreGastroscopy is an examination of the inside of the oesophagus (throat), stomach and duodenum (the first section of small intestine). It is performed by using a thin, flexible fibre-optic instrument
(gastroscope) that is passed through the mouth to check for any damage to the lining of the oesophagus or stomach, and for any ulcers in the stomach or duodenum. The procedure is painless and is usually done under a sedative.moreGeneral surgery takes its name from general medicine, and is a surgical specialty focusing on the torso and abdominal organs. This may include the intestines comprising the oesophagus, stomach, small
and large intestines, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. It also often deals with diseases and disorders involving the skin and breasts.moreLaparoscopic surgery, also known as ‘keyhole surgery’, is carried out with the aid of a camera inserted into the abdomen or pelvis. A small incision is made in the abdominal wall through which a
laparoscope, a flexible lighted tube with a camera attached, is inserted so that structures within the abdomen and pelvis can be examined. The abdominal cavity is made more visible by distending it with an absorbable gas, usually carbon dioxide. A number of major and minor surgeries may be carried out. A variety of tubes and long, narrow instruments can be inserted through the same incision in the skin, or via other small incisions, facilitating a number of procedures without the need for a large surgical incision. The surgeon uses these instruments to manipulate, cut and sew tissue. A number of procedures can be performed laparoscopically, including gallbladder removal (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), oesophageal surgery (laparoscopic fundoplication), colon surgery (laparoscopic colectomy), and surgery on the stomach and spleen. Most patients receive general anaesthetic during the procedure.morePaediatric surgery involves treatment of diseases and disorders in foetuses, infants (including neonatal or newborn), children and adolescents. There are many specialised surgical areas, such as
cardiothoracic (heart), nephrology (kidneys), neurosurgery (nervous system), and urological (urinary system) surgery. Paediatric surgery is commonly used for a wide range of conditions, many related to congenital malformations (birth defects), such as cleft lip and palate, or developmental defects, such as abdominal hernias and undescended testes. Surgery may also be related to social practices, such as male circumcision.moreVascular surgery treats diseases and disorders of the vascular system (the arteries and veins) with a variety of therapies, minimally invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction.
Procedures to treat arteries and veins include angiography (performed to view blood vessels in many areas of the body), stenting (inserting a small tube to keep a blood vessel open), repair of an aneurysm (an abnormal widening or ballooning of part of a vein or artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel); and treatment of obstructions in arteries, as well as other conditions.more
