Surgery

A branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases, injuries, and malformations that require operative procedures, including incision, excision, repair, reconstruction, or replacement of tissues or organs.

Major surgical specialties

• General surgery

• Cardiothoracic surgery

• Vascular surgery

• Neurosurgery

• Orthopedic surgery

• Plastic and reconstructive surgery

• Otolaryngology–head and neck surgery

• Ophthalmic surgery

• Urologic surgery

• Gynecologic surgery

• Transplant surgery

• Pediatric surgery

• Surgical oncology

• Trauma and acute care surgery

Core surgical principles

• Excision/resection: Removal of diseased tissue

• Repair/reconstruction: Restoration of anatomy and function

• Replacement of damaged structures (prostheses, grafts, implants, transplantation)

• Minimally invasive and image-guided interventions (laparoscopy, robotics, endovascular techniques)

• Perioperative care, including preoperative assessment, anesthesia coordination, and postoperative management