Written by Fabio Pencle
Overview
Surgery is a branch of medicine that deals with the treatment, management, and assessment of a wide range of medical conditions. It is the treatment of injuries or disorders of the body by incision or manipulation, especially with instruments.
A surgery consultation is the first step towards understanding your diagnosis and asking relevant questions you may have. It is an essential part for both your surgeon and you. During the consultation a clinical assessment involves the surgeon asking about your complaint (History) and performing an examination (Physical) to determine your diagnosis. Based on this diagnosis a surgical recommendation is made by the surgeon and any further questions can be answered about the procedure, benefits and risks. At this time if the you agree to surgery, you may be consented to have a record of the type of procedure and a tentative date scheduled.
Our practice offers further follow up with a concierge service. Further education classes and logistics for surgery schedule is coordinated for you.
According to the data of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 22.5 million surgeries are performed in ambulatory surgery centers every year.
Goals of Surgery
Ensure the patient is not subjected to unnecessary pain, discomfort, and recovery process
Suggest the most suitable surgical technique or procedure to treat the disease, reduce the symptoms, or manage the condition
Make the patient fully understand the potential risks or complications of the procedure
Outline an individualized surgical plan that can be followed through
Keep track of the patient’s progress and recovery, especially during the first 24 to 48 hours after the surgical procedure
Expectations and Fears
Patients go through surgery consultation when they are referred by their primary care provider (PCP) or other specialists
Are meant for surgery? If the surgeons determine the patients are likely candidates for surgery, they conduct more consultations wherein they perform or interpret test results, plan the surgical procedure (including the date of the surgery), recovery program, etc.
What occurs when surgery is complete? Consultations are also carried out as soon as the surgery has been completed. At this point, the surgeon’s concern is to ensure that the patient responded well to the procedure and to verify whether there are complications.
What happens if there is a complication? Not all surgical complications occur quickly. In some cases, it takes days or even years for them to be discovered. Patients who develop such are encouraged to set an appointment with their surgeon, so the complications are addressed as soon as possible, preventing them from getting worse.
The expected results of the surgery depend on the goal of the consultation. The patients may:
Learn whether they are fit for surgery or, if not, understand the reasons why and determine other possible treatment options
Identify the risks and possible results of the surgery so they can decide for themselves whether to proceed with it or not. In the case of minors (pediatrics), the decision rests with the adult, who is either a parent or a guardian.
Obtain a better picture and prognosis of the disease based on the additional tests
Ensure patients are prepared physically, mentally, and even spiritually for the surgery
Determine the best steps to take during the post-operative care
How Does the Procedure Work?
Most of the surgical consultations are planned. This means the patient has been referred by a doctor or a specialist following the results of initial tests. Patients then set appointments with the recommended or their chosen surgeon.
During the initial pre-operative consultation, the surgeon asks a series of questions to know the main concern of the patient, from the disease to the fears or discomfort about surgeries. The surgeon then reviews the results of the exams, which should have been forwarded before the consultation. If the tests are not enough to decide, the surgeon may request for more tests, which will then be evaluated and discussed during the next consultation.
Possible Risks and Complications
A surgery consultation doesn’t in any way guarantee the elimination of risks and complications. However, one of the primary objectives of the consultation is to reduce and/or mitigate these risks, which can include bleeding, infection, and organ failure. Patients and surgeons should work hand in hand to ensure the patient’s safety all throughout the surgical process.
Building from the ground up, we strive to be a global outpatient Academic Orthopedic and Neurosurgery-Spine Specialty & Research Institute of Excellence. We aim to lead in Less Exposure Surgery techniques. For questions and scheduling call 855-411-LESS.
