Department of Surgery

Types, Tools and Techniques of Surgery

Open/Traditional Surgery

Open or traditional surgery is the term for procedures that most patients think about when they have to go to the hospital for an operation. Open or traditional surgery includes several steps common to most procedures:

Patient Preparation

• Routine tests or exams are performed in the Laboratory and Outpatient Services area
• The skin area is prepared—shaved or washed
• A member of the surgical team explains the procedure
• Anesthesia is delivered to the patient locally or intravenously, depending on the procedure

Procedure

• The surgeon makes an incision in the skin with a scalpel to reach the target organ
• If necessary, the patient receives a blood transfusion to replace lost blood
• The surgeon closes the incision using stitches, staples, or adhesive strips, depending on the location and depth of the incision

Recovery

• The patient is treated with antibiotics and given pain medication, if necessary
• The patient is observed by the surgical team to monitor recovery
• Depending on the procedure, the patient may spend the night in the hospital

Speak with your surgeon to get specific details about your procedure.