“You need surgery”
Those can be tough words to hear.
But here’s the good news: today’s surgical techniques often allow you to go home the same day, heal up way quicker than ever before, and are much safer than ever before.
In this article, we’ll cover the 14 surgical specialties recognized by the American College of Surgeons. When you need a surgeon, the first thing to determine is which surgeon to see.
General surgery doesn’t mean “every surgery.” Different procedures require different training.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgeons are medical professionals adept in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions in relation to the chest. They manage, diagnose, and operate on patients with intrathoracic conditions which need surgical treatment. Necessary for this is a wide knowledge of cardiorespiratory physiology and oncology.
- Lung cancer
- Chest trauma
- Esophageal cancer
- Emphysema
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm
- Lung transplantation
Colon and Rectal Surgery
Colon and rectal surgeons perform medical and surgical procedures having to do with the lower gastrointestinal tract — that is, the intestines, colon, anal canal, and the perianal area. They specialize in managing and treating conditions such as tears in the lining of the anal canal, abscesses, infections of the anus and rectum, as well as hemorrhoids. A deep knowledge of intestinal and anorectal physiology is required.
- Constipation
- Colorectal cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Diverticular disease
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal fissure
General Surgery
A general surgeon is one who specializes in the treatment and surgical procedures of a wide array of diseases and conditions affecting almost any part of the body. Dr. Higgins, for instance, is a general surgeon. The types of surgeries he most often does are breast surgery, appendectomies, hernia repairs, colon surgery, and gallbladder surgery.
Knowledge of conditions relating to the head and neck, breast, skin and soft tissues, abdomen, extremities, gastrointestinal, vascular, and endocrine systems are necessary for this line of work. General surgeons may also further specialize in pediatric surgery, vascular surgery, surgery of the hand, and critical care surgery. Dr Higgin’s primary practice is breast cancer surgery and breast health.
Pediatric Surgery
A pediatric surgeon is one who is equipped to diagnose, treat, and manage the care of children. The range of their practice starts from the newborn to those in their teenage years. Two years of additional training are required before one is certified in this subspecialization.
Pediatric surgeons are experts in the following:
- Neonatal surgery
- Prenatal surgery
- Trauma
- Pediatric surgical oncology
- Surgical problems of the gastrointestinal tract
- Appendicitis
- Biliary atresia
- Cancer
- Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula
- Gallbladder problems
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Gastroschisis
- Hernia
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Imperforate anus (anal atresia)
Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgery is a subspecialty that deals with conditions and diseases that relate to the arteries, veins, and lymphatic systems excluding the heart and intracranial circulations. Common diseases treated are atherosclerosis, stroke prevention by management of arterial blockages, management of aneurysms, vascular trauma, and varicose veins. Angioplasty is also included in this subspecialty, where less invasive techniques are used to repair abdominal aneurysms.
- Aortic aneurysm
- Carotid artery disease
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Thrombophlebitis
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Renal and mesenteric arterial occlusive disease
- Vein disease
Surgery of the Hand
This subspecialty focuses on the treatment of conditions affecting the upper extremities. This necessitates knowledge of microvascular surgery needed for reattachment of amputated fingers or limbs.
- Animal bites
- Brachial plexus injury
- Broken arm or hand
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Congenital hand differences
- Ganglion cysts
- Golf injuries to the hand, wrist, or elbow
- MP joint arthritis
- Nail bed injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Critical Care Surgery
This subspecialty deals with the treatment and care of critically ill and injured patients, particularly trauma victims. Surgeons under this specialty have to be able to provide timely, safe, effective, and efficient patient-centered care. They often deal with patients with multiple organ problems.
- Spleen and liver injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Post-operative pulmonary failure
- Motor vehicle crash injuries
- Falls
- Pedestrian injuries from motor vehicles
- Significant sports injuries
- Assaults
Gynecology and Obstetrics
Gynecology and obstetrics are two separate but very related studies. Gynecology pertains to the field of study dealing with the overall function of the female reproductive system. Obstetrics, on the other hand, is concerned particularly with the processes of pregnancy and childbirth.
They are more commonly known as OB-GYN, and deal with nearly all surgery having to do with the female reproductive system – childbirth most famously of all.
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Adenomyosis
- Amenorrhea
- Cervicitis
- Dysmenorrhea
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometritis
- Endometriosis
- Genital warts
- Incontinence
- Menorrhagia
- Ovarian cysts
- Urinary tract infection
- Vaginitis
- Vulvitis
- Sexually transmitted diseases
Gynecologic Oncology
A more specialized form of gynecology which deals with cancers of the female reproductive system. Gynecologic oncologists are trained to detect, diagnose, treat, and surgically remove those cancers.
Common Diseases Treated
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Vulvar cancer
Neurological Surgery
This specialty is what most would call “brain surgery”, though they deal with far more than the brain. Neurosurgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of any part of the nervous system. This includes the brain, the spinal cord, and even the peripheral nerves which run all throughout the body.
- Hydrocephalus
- Cushing’s disease
- Concussions
- Central cord syndrome
- Head and brain trauma
- Brain and spinal tumors
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Dystonia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cerebral aneurysm
- Stroke
Ophthalmic Surgery
Also known as eye surgery or ocular surgery, ophthalmic is the procedure performed on the eye by an ophthalmologist. Extreme care is needed in eye surgery as this is a very fragile organ. Ophthalmologists are trained to diagnose and treat all ocular and visual disorders.
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Amblyopia
- Astigmatism
- Blepharitis
- Cataracts
- Corneal oedema
- Corneal infections
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Double vision (diplopia)
- Epiblepharon
- Eye infection/ Red eye
- Lazy eye (amblyopia)
- Macular hole
- Myopic maculopathy
- Socket reconstruction
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial Surgeons specialize in dentistry, meaning that they diagnose and treat patients with conditions relating to the function and appearance of the oral and maxillofacial area. It involves care of the oral cavity and face, removal of deceased and impacted teeth, and most commonly, tooth removal for the application of braces.
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Tooth and bone loss
- Facial trauma/injury
- Sleep apnea
- Congenital defects of the jaw
Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgeons, also known as orthopedics, are those who are specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. These doctors may use both surgical and non surgical means to treat a variety of conditions. They also are involved in the treatment of secondary muscular problems such as cerebral palsy, paraplegia, or stroke.
- Arthritis
- Osteoartritis
- Bursitis
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s or baseball elbow)
- Fibromyalgia
- Fractures
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Urology
Surgeons who specialize in urology treat patients with benign and cancerous disorders of the adrenal gland and the genitourinary system. They also advocate the prevention, early detection, and treatment of prostate cancer.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Kidney and ureteral stones
- Prostate cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Bladder prolapse
- Erectile dysfunction
Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgeons specialize in treating damage and disorders of the vascular system — the blood and lymphatic vessels. All blood vessels are included except for those of the heart (the domain of cardiothoracic surgeons) and the brain (the domain of neurosurgeons). Of course, aside from direct surgery, they are also the people to go to for the detection and prevention of many vascular diseases.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Atherosclerosis
- Carotid artery disease
- Fibromuscular disease
- Hyperlipidemia
- Lymphedema
- Portal hypertension
- Pulmonary embolism
- Stroke
- Vascular infections
- Vascular trauma
- Vasculitis
The average American will have, on average, 9.2 surgical procedures throughout his or her lifetime. Common procedures include coronary angioplasty, cesarean section, cholecystectomy, and appendectomy.
If you’re still not sure which type of surgeon you need, check with a general surgeon. The general surgeon can certainly tell you whether you’ll need a specialty surgeon.
Never put seeking medical advice off. The sooner you get treated, the sooner you’ll feel better. Some conditions can intensify rapidly. Don’t wait. Talk with your physician and chart a course of action.
Please Note: The articles on Dr. Andy Higgins’ website are obtained from a variety of sources. While they pertain to the treatment of breast cancer, colon cancer, and other maladies, their presence here is not to help diagnose or treat any disease, but to stimulate conversation about health-related issues. All articles are cleared by an editor, but not necessarily by Doctor Higgins himself.