Surgical procedures are used to repair damage within the body or remove diseased tissues that are affecting a person's health and quality of life. Surgeries normally fall into two comprehensive types, major surgery, and minor surgery.
What Is a Major Surgery?
Major surgery normally involves opening the body, allowing the surgeon access to the area where the work needs to be completed. It involves major trauma to the tissues, a high risk of infection, and an extended recovery period. Most major surgeries will leave a large scar.
What Are Some Major Surgeries?
There are many different surgeries that fall into this category. They include:
- Cesarean section
- Organ replacement
- Joint replacement
- Full hysterectomy
- Heart surgeries
- Bariatric surgeries, including the gastric bypass
While some of these procedures may be able to be performed in less invasive ways, they still involve major trauma to the body and can have long-lasting complications.
Is Gallbladder Surgery a Major Surgery?
Gallbladder surgery is a common surgical procedure that is performed for gallbladder removal. It is usually done with minimally invasive techniques and involves small openings in the abdomen.
Is an Appendectomy a Major Surgery?
An appendectomy is a common surgery that is done to treat appendicitis. It involves removal of the appendix and can be open and laparoscopic depending on the severity and your medical history.
What Is a Minor Surgery?
Minor surgical procedures are those that are minimally invasive. In most cases, these are performed laparoscopically or arthroscopically. Small incisions are made that allow surgical tools and a small camera to be inserted into the body. This allows the doctor to perform the procedure without damaging extensive amounts of tissue. The risk of infection is greatly reduced and the patient's recovery time is much shorter. There are also surgical procedures that are superficial, only affecting the outermost portions of the body.
What Are Some Minor Surgeries?
Minor surgeries include:
- Cataract surgery
- Dental restorations
- Circumcision
- Breast biopsy
- Arthroscopy
- Laparoscopy
- Burn excision and debridement procedures
Learn about:Laparotomy and Laparoscopy Surgery: What You Should Know
Every surgery involves some degree of risk, but performing minor surgeries that are less invasive can shorten a patient's recovery time and effectively reduce their risk of infection.
Major Surgery vs Minor Surgery
| Major Surgery | Minor Surgery |
| More extensive resection is done | Small incisions are made |
| Cause damage to the tissues | No extensive damage to the tissues |
| A high risk of infection | The risk of infection is low |
| Extended recovery period | Recovery time is shorter |
Surgical procedures in both categories should be carefully considered. The risk involved is often outweighed by the benefits the procedure offers. Improving the quality of life and restoring health are the two main priorities when making the decision to go ahead with the procedure.
Far North Surgery is one of the trusted surgery centers in Alaska that provides safe and successful surgical procedures. We are committed to providing the best patient care and state-of-the-art technology. Contact us at 907-276-3676 to schedule an appointment.
FAQs
Examples of major surgery include cardiac operations, any bowel cavity operations, reconstructive surgery, deep tissue procedures, any transplant procedures, as well as any surgeries in the abdomen, chest or cranium. Minor – Minor surgeries are generally superficial and do not require penetration of a body cavity.
What is the difference between a minor procedure and a major surgery in terms of global surgical days? ›
The global period may be 90, 10, or 0 days. According to Medicare, a major surgery has a global period of 90 days, and a minor surgery has a global period of either 10 or 0 days. Thus, the time frame of, not the complexity of, the surgery determines whether a surgery is major or minor.
What is the difference between surgery and surgical? ›
The act of performing surgery may be called a surgical procedure or surgical operation, or simply "surgery" or "operation". In this context, the verb "operate" means to perform surgery. The adjective surgical means pertaining to surgery; e.g. surgical instruments, surgical facility or surgical nurse.
What is a major surgery? ›
What is meant by Major Surgery? Any surgical intervention that penetrates and exposes a body cavity; any procedure that has the potential for inducing permanent anatomic (physical) or physiologic impairment and/or any procedure associated with orthopedics or extensive tissue dissection or transection.
What is the main difference between a major and a minor? ›
Your major will decide your primary field of study, whereas the minor is a secondary concentration. Then, although it varies from school to school, generally, minors require fewer credit hours. Once everything is done, your major is the only one that will be displayed on your graduation certificate.
What is the difference between minor and major surgery in CMS? ›
000 codes identify endoscopies or some minor surgical procedures (0-day post-operative period). 010 codes identify other minor procedures (10-day post-operative period). 090 codes identify major surgeries (90-day post-operative period). for these codes is 0, 10, or 90 days.
What does minor surgery include? ›
What Is a Minor Surgery? Minor surgical procedures are those that are minimally invasive. In most cases, these are performed laparoscopically or arthroscopically. Small incisions are made that allow surgical tools and a small camera to be inserted into the body.
How does Medicare define surgeries as major or minor major surgeries have? ›
Medicare has designated major surgery is one day with 90 days for the postoperative period. Minor surgery is the day of the procedure with a post-operative period of either zero or ten days depending on the procedure.
What is the difference between surgery and general surgery? ›
General surgeons are doctors who specialize in surgical procedures. Surgery is any procedure that alters body tissues to diagnose or treat a medical condition. A general surgeon is part of a surgical team that also includes an anesthesiologist, nurses, and surgical technicians.
What are the 2 types of surgery? ›
Types of surgical procedure
Open surgery is the most common type of surgery and characterised by the staples or stiches used to close the incision. Keyhole surgery is done through very small incisions in a patient's skin with the use of a fine tube with a light on the end (known as a fibre optic light source).
Neurosurgery is known to be particularly challenging because of the intricate nature of the nervous system and the significant risks involved in surgical procedures.
What's the difference between surgery and open surgery? ›
Open surgery is a traditional procedure in which a single incision, multiple inches long if not more, is made to access the abdomen. In contrast, laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that uses several incisions of one-quarter or less.
What is major general surgery? ›
(JEH-neh-rul SER-juh-ree) The branch of surgery that covers the main areas of surgical treatment. General surgeons treat diseases of the abdomen, breast, head and neck, blood vessels, and digestive tract.
What is the most common major surgery? ›
Some of the most common surgical operations done in the United States include the following: Appendectomy. An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix, a small tube that branches off the large intestine, to treat acute appendicitis. Appendicitis is the acute inflammation of this tube due to infection.
What is the major called for surgery? ›
If titled in English, they are named Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery; Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; or Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery; usually abbreviated as MB BS, and sometimes as BM BS, even though most MB BS-awarding institutions do not use Latin to name their degrees.
What is a minor surgery used for? ›
Minor surgeries can be performed to treat a wide range of conditions, including ingrown toenails and sebaceous cysts. Some of the more commonly performed procedures include removal of ingrown toenails, removal of lumps and bumps such as lipoma, sebaceous cysts, and stitches for open wounds and nasty cuts.
Is minor surgery risky? ›
Depending on the type of surgery and the medical history of the patient, complications after even minor surgeries can vary. Common complications include shock, hemorrhaging, infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, breathing problems, urinary retention problems and allergic reactions to anesthesia.
How long is a minor surgery? ›
The length of time required depends on the type of procedure performed. Expect to spend about 15 to 30 minutes for most, or up to an hour for more complicated minor procedures after being checked in and placed in a room.
What are the two main types of surgery? ›
Open surgery is the most common type of surgery and characterised by the staples or stiches used to close the incision. Keyhole surgery is done through very small incisions in a patient's skin with the use of a fine tube with a light on the end (known as a fibre optic light source).
