General Surgery Procedures

Common General Surgery Procedures

General surgery focuses on conditions involving the abdomen, digestive tract, skin, soft tissues, endocrine system, and hernias.

These procedures collectively account for millions of operations each year and cover the majority of conditions encountered in modern general surgery. They also represent an excellent foundation for a comprehensive patient education library.

Common procedures include:

  • Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Surgery

    • Appendectomy – removal of the appendix for appendicitis.

    • Cholecystectomy – removal of the gallbladder, usually for gallstones.

    • Colectomy – removal of part or all of the colon.

    • Small bowel resection – removal of diseased segments of the small intestine.

    • Gastrectomy – partial or complete removal of the stomach.

    • Bariatric surgery – procedures such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy for obesity.

  • Hernia Surgery

    • Inguinal hernia repair

    • Umbilical hernia repair

    • Incisional hernia repair

    • Femoral hernia repair

  • Endocrine Surgery

    • Thyroidectomy – removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.

    • Parathyroidectomy – removal of one or more parathyroid glands.

    • Adrenalectomy – removal of an adrenal gland.

  • Breast Surgery

    • Lumpectomy – removal of a breast lump.

    • Mastectomy – removal of breast tissue, often for cancer treatment.

  • Skin and Soft Tissue Procedures

    • Excision of skin lesions or cysts

    • Lipoma excision

    • Abscess incision and drainage

    • Debridement of wounds

  • Trauma and Emergency Surgery

    • Exploratory laparotomy – opening the abdomen to diagnose or treat internal injuries.

    • Bowel perforation repair

    • Management of abdominal trauma

  • Minimally Invasive (Laparoscopic) Procedures

    Many operations can be performed laparoscopically (“keyhole surgery”), including:

    • Appendectomy

    • Cholecystectomy

    • Hernia repair

    • Colectomy

    • Bariatric surgery

  • Other Common Procedures

    • Placement of feeding tubes (PEG tubes)

    • Venous access port insertion

    • Hemorrhoid surgery

    • Splenectomy (removal of the spleen)

    If you’re asking from a medical student, nursing, or surgical residency perspective, I can also provide a categorized list of major vs. minor general surgery procedures or the most commonly performed procedures in practice.

  • Highest-Volume General Surgery Procedures:

    1. Cholecystectomy

    2. Inguinal Hernia Repair

    3. Appendectomy

    4. Bariatric Surgery

    5. Colectomy

    6. Hemorrhoidectomy

    7. Ventral/Incisional Hernia Repair

    8. Thyroidectomy

    9. Breast Lumpectomy/Mastectomy

    10. Diagnostic/Operative Laparoscopy

For your Let’s Do Surgery (LDS) platform, these procedures can each follow your standardized 13-section Digital Module structure:

  1. Procedure Overview

  2. Relevant Anatomy

  3. Disease States and Indications

  4. Preoperative Workup

  5. Surgical Approaches

  6. Step-by-Step Procedure

  7. Safety Checkpoints

  8. Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies

  9. Medications and Anesthesia

  10. Risks and Complications

  11. Recovery Pathway

  12. Patient Decision Support

  13. Professional Intelligence Layer

This framework provides a consistent educational experience for patients, caregivers, students, and healthcare professionals across the full spectrum of cardiothoracic surgery.