What are the different types of surgery?

Surgery can be classified as major or minor, depending on the seriousness of the illness, the parts of the body affected, the complexity of the operation, and the expected recovery time.

These are surgeries of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. The recovery time can be lengthy and may involve a stay in intensive care or several days in the hospital. There is a higher risk of complications after such surgeries. In children, types of major surgery may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• removal of brain tumors
• correction of bone malformations of the skull and face
• repair of congenital heart disease, transplantation of organs, and repair of intestinal malformations
• correction of spinal abnormalities and treatment of injuries sustained from major blunt trauma
• correction of problems in fetal development of the lungs, intestines, diaphragm, or anus.