special subjects
Surgery
Surgical Risk
The risks of surgery, that is, how likely surgery is to cause death or a serious problem, depend on the type of surgery and characteristics of the person. Types of surgery that have the highest risk include Heart or lung surgery Liver surgery Abdominal surgeries that take a long time to complete or have an increased risk of major bleeding Prostate gland removal Major operations on the bones and joints (for example, hip replacement) Generally, the poorer the person's overall health, the higher the risks of surgery. Some particular health problems that increase surgical risk include History of and risk factors for Overview of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) None History of Heart Failure (HF) None History of Overview of Stroke or Symptoms of chest pain caused by Overview of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (angina) Undernutrition (common among older people who live in institutions) Severe disorders of the lungs or liver Chronic Kidney Disease None Overview of Immunodeficiency Disorders (for example, because of long-term corticosteroid treatment) Diabetes Mellitus (DM) that needs to be treated with Obesity None Risks are often higher among older people (see Spotlight on Aging: Surgical Risk and Age ). However, risks are determined more by general health than by age. Chronic disorders that increase surgical risk and other treatable disorders, such as dehydration, infections, imbalances in body fluids and electrolytes, and particularly heart failure and angina, should be controlled with treatment as well as possible before an operation. 