4 Surgical Procedures You’ll Likely Encounter in Your Life

Some of us get subjected to situations that oblige us to consider having surgery. This is because our bodies are more prone to certain health problems that might need surgical interference. Most people freak out about surgeries, especially when they imagine themselves being put in a position where their bodies are being operated on by scalpels and other surgical tools. The fact of the matter is people freak out because of a lack of knowledge. There are a lot of common surgeries, and a lot of people undergo these procedures, but they come out just fine.

Tonsillectomy

One of the most common procedures that are done on people is the tonsillectomy. Individuals who undergo this operation have inflamed tonsils that need to be surgically removed. Enlarged tonsils can sometimes cause bleeding, irritation, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing and disrupts sleep. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then you might need to get your tonsils checked.

There are other things that you need to look out for. For instance, if you have a fever or are experiencing dehydration, bleeding, or sleeping problems because of your tonsils, then there is a big chance that you might need to get this operation done. After this surgery, patients should load up on a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration. It is also best if they eat cold food after the surgery like yogurt, ice cream, or anything that can easily be swallowed since they can ease the swelling sensation can be quite soothing. With that being said, patients should avoid acidic, hot, and spicy food after surgery.

Appendectomy

While the name sounds complicated, the operation itself is quite simple. An appendectomy is the removal of your appendix. Surgeons create an incision in your lower-right abdomen and simply take it out. Now, you must be thinking, “if it belongs on the inside, what are they doing taking it out?” Well, so far, the appendix’s only known purpose is to get infected and cause deplorable pain, especially if it ruptures. There are several working theories on its actual purpose, though, but nothing has really stuck.

When the appendix gets infected, a condition commonly known as appendicitis, it is necessary for it to be taken out before it bursts and releases pus and bacteria into your body. Luckily, the removal procedure is pretty much standard. It is like the meatloaf of surgeries, and in most cases, the pain from appendicitis subsides shortly after the operation.

C-Section

 

 

Another common surgery, for women exclusively, is the Cesarean section, also known as C-section. This surgery is done when a woman can’t naturally give birth. This problem occurs for several reasons. For instance, the umbilical cord can be placed around the baby’s neck, placenta problems, the baby isn’t in the right position, the vagina isn’t dilated enough, the mother is delivering twins or more, and so much more.

This surgery is surely painful, but safe. Mothers might feel a tad uncomfortable after the surgery and carry around their urinary catheter, which is a flexible tube that transfers urine from the bladder into a plastic bag. Doctors use this tube because patients cannot or has difficulty going to the bathroom after surgeries.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Just like trying to pronounce the words above, kidney stones are also one of the banes of modern human existence. With a tiny cut in the back, a small medical scope, and loads of anesthetic, however, surgeons can extract the largest of those little buggers. Mostly, the process is used when other treatments have failed or when the stones are larger than two centimeters in diameter.

Before the procedure, your surgeon will have you get a simple scan for them to locate the stones. For that, you will be awake, but you won’t be feeling anything because of a local anesthetic. Although, during the surgery itself, you will be completely put under. Afterward, you will have to stay for a day or two in the hospital, and you will also have to avoid heavy lifting for around a month. It all goes back to your surgeon’s instructions, which you should adhere to no matter what you read or have heard because each case differs from another.

All in all, these aforementioned surgeries aren’t complicated, and they are not scary either. They don’t have a high-risk factor, and they ultimately make you feel better. It is also important to know how to take care of yourself before and after surgery, especially since after most surgeries, you are going to have a urinary catheter tube attached to you. Learn more about these common surgeries, identify the probable causes, how to prevent them from happening, and how to know if you need one.