Surgeon

A surgeon (from the ancient Greek “to act with the hand”) is a medical specialist who performs surgical treatment of various types of acute and chronic diseases.

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Who is a surgeon?

This is a doctor who graduated from a higher medical institution and has undergone professional training that allows him to carry out diagnostics and surgical treatment of various pathologies and traumatic situations.

When should you see a surgeon?

There are many thousands of pathologies that a surgeon deals with, but they are all based on several types of disease processes. According to this feature, the following conditions can be distinguished, determining whether a disease belongs to surgical pathology:

• surgical infectious process - the entry of pathogenic microbes into the body, which provokes the formation of an inflammatory reaction. This can be either an ordinary abscess or complex conditions such as peritonitis or sepsis;
• surgical injuries – both open and closed (severe contusion, organ rupture, concussion, frostbite, sprain, thermal and electrical burn, fracture, crush syndrome, dislocation, open wound surfaces);
• the appearance of tumor formations, both on the surface of the skin and on internal organs;
• circulatory disorders (tissue trophic disorders, gangrene, skin ulcers, perforations, fistulas);
• congenital malformations;
• complications of parasitic invasions.

You should definitely consult a surgeon in case of sharp, sudden pain, detection of blood in urine or feces, spontaneous swelling and redness of soft tissues, or the appearance of neoplasms of unknown origin.

What tests should you take when visiting a surgeon?

If you want to visit a surgeon for a consultation, then, as a rule, apart from the required fluorography, you will not be asked for anything else.

It's a different matter if you're about to have surgery, especially under general anesthesia. In that case, you'll really have to take a number of mandatory tests:

• fluorography (or chest x-ray);
• general blood test;
• biochemical blood parameters (total protein, glucose, cholesterol, urea, bilirubin, creatinine, AST and ALT);
• assessment of the blood coagulation system;
• general urine test;
• blood test for syphilis;
• blood test for HIV infection;
• hepatitis B and C;
• determination of blood type and Rh factor;
• cardiogram with interpretation by a cardiologist.

When taking the above tests, remember that the blood biochemistry test is valid for two weeks, and all other tests - one month.

Older adults may need to consult with other health care professionals, such as a primary care physician, before surgery.

What diagnostic methods does the surgeon use?

In his practice, a surgeon may use the following types of diagnostics:

• collection of anamnestic data (development of illness, circumstances of the accident, previous treatment, age characteristics, professional characteristics);
• radiograph (sometimes a comparative radiograph - for example, a picture of a damaged and healthy limb);
• neurological examinations (conducted if innervation disorders are suspected);
• computer tomography method – a specific X-ray method demonstrating a layer-by-layer section of organs. Allows to present a three-dimensional spatial image, to examine the structural structure of tissues;
• Magnetic resonance imaging is a diagnostic procedure that does not involve the use of X-rays. The device records electromagnetic waves that occur under the influence of magnetic fields. This method is especially important in the diagnosis of soft tissues;
• the scintigraphy method involves introducing isotopes into the body. This technique is successfully used in endocrine diagnostics, as well as in the study of the musculoskeletal system;
• diagnostic method of laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive operation that can be used for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Moreover, diagnostics and treatment are often simply combined in one procedure. This method is extremely successful in removing cysts, polyps, calculous cholecystitis, etc.;
• ultrasonography method – an absolutely harmless method based on the use of ultrasound waves, the frequency of which is about 30,000 Hz. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain an image of the deep layers of the body;
• ductographic examination is a radiological method combined with the introduction of a contrast agent into natural ducts;
• biopsy and histology method – involves taking pathological materials (pieces of affected tissue) with their subsequent examination. This method is applied to all types of tumors, both malignant and benign, or when they are suspected.

The appropriateness of using a particular diagnostic method is always decided only by a specialist, using an individual approach to the patient.

What does a surgeon do?

It is difficult to imagine any medical institution these days, be it a hospital or a clinic, without a specialist in surgery. A practicing surgeon is one of the most sought-after medical specialties. A qualified doctor must fully master the techniques, methods and techniques of performing surgical interventions, have medical and general biological knowledge, and determine the most effective methods of treating patients.

Modern surgeons can also have a narrower specialization, which allows them to study diseases in more depth depending on their location.

• An abdominal surgeon is a doctor who specializes in surgical solutions to pathologies of the abdominal organs.
• Thoracic surgeon - specializes in the organs of the chest.
• A urologist surgeon performs surgical interventions on the genitourinary organs.
• A surgeon-andrologist is a specialist in the field of surgery of male pathologies.
• A gynecological surgeon deals with surgical treatment of gynecological diseases.
• Neurosurgeon – performs surgical treatment of pathologies of the nervous system.
• Vascular surgeon – performs operations on diseases of the arterial and venous systems.
• Cardiac surgeon – surgically corrects heart diseases.
• An endocrinologist surgeon surgically treats pathologies of the endocrine glands.
• A plastic surgeon surgically restores the shape and function of organs and tissues and changes the shape of the human body.
• Orthopedic surgeon – corrects congenital and acquired disorders of musculoskeletal functions.
• A proctologist surgeon performs surgical treatment for diseases of the large intestine, anus and pararectal area.
• An ophthalmologist surgeon performs surgical vision correction.

A modern surgeon works not only with a scalpel, endoscopic methods (low-trauma surgeries) can often be applied, which suggest the best outcome of the operation and a minimal rehabilitation period. Such surgeries are most often performed during appendectomy, cholecystectomy, removal of neoplasms in the abdominal cavity, stones in the urinary tract.

In the fight against varicose veins, vascular surgeons can use not only the removal of damaged vessels, but also an endoscopic procedure for ligating the affected veins, or sclerotherapy of the veins using the introduction of a special substance.

Neurosurgeons previously had only one technique for brain surgery – craniotomy. Now such a radical method is not necessary: it is possible to use a special procedure called “gamma knife”, which affects tissue with ɣ-radioactive particles.

What diseases does a surgeon treat?

What diseases can a surgeon treat, and what pathologies do patients most often seek help from a surgeon?

• joint pathologies and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthrosis, bursitis, sports injuries, traumatic injuries to bones and joints);
• intestinal pathologies (anal fissures, colon polyposis, papillitis, hemorrhoids);
• oncological diseases (hemangiomas, lipomas, atheromas, etc.);
• skin pathologies (warts, boils, hidradenitis, ingrown nails);
• gynecological diseases (cysts, polyps, tubal obstruction, ectopic pregnancy);
• cardiology (heart defects, bypass surgery);
• tissue necrosis (gangrene, dystrophy);
• inflammatory processes in soft tissues and internal organs (abscesses, appendicitis, peritonitis, etc.);
• congenital anomalies of organ development (cleft lip, cleft palate, atavisms, rudimentary organs);
• parasitic surgical diseases (echinococcosis, alveococcosis, intestinal obstruction due to ascariasis, complications of opisthorchiasis and amebiasis).

Advice from a surgeon

What can a surgeon advise to ensure that you never end up on the operating table? Much depends on you. Listen to the following advice:

• do not take any medications unless necessary, especially antibiotics and unknown medications;
• eat only fresh and good quality food, preferably prepared by yourself from fresh ingredients;
• give up bad habits – smoking, alcohol, drugs;
• Laziness and inactivity are unfavorable factors for health. Lead an active lifestyle, remember - idleness breeds laziness, laziness breeds death;
• avoid overeating, do not overload the digestive system, try not to eat heavy food at night;
• make sure you empty your bowels on time, avoid constipation, eat less sweets and more fiber – vegetables, fruits, greens, berries;
• control your weight. Excess weight not only has a detrimental effect on the functioning of all systems of the human body, but also increases the risk of accidental injury;
• observe the rules of personal hygiene;
• drink enough clean water (at least 1.5 liters per day), do not allow dehydration;
• try to walk as much as possible, go up to floors without using the elevator, do morning exercises;
• When doing intense sports, do not make sudden, large-amplitude movements without warming up your muscles first. Any workout should begin with a warm-up;
• do not neglect any type of massage, especially if your professional activity is associated with stress on the spine and lower limbs;
• establish regular sex life with a proven, permanent partner;
• harden your body, walk barefoot, take a contrast shower, swim in open water bodies and pools;
• wear comfortable shoes to avoid accidental injuries and falls;
• If you do get hurt, immediately treat the wound with any alcohol-containing product. If the bruise is significant, go to the emergency room.

And the most important advice: think about your health not only when something hurts somewhere. Health should be taken care of constantly. This does not require any supernatural efforts, only your desire and adherence to the principles of a healthy lifestyle will be enough.

However, remember: if you still need the help of a specialist, the surgeon will always see you, consult you and conduct the necessary examinations.