perioperative care 1 (purposes of surgery)

What are the main purposes of surgery?

Diagnostic (confirm diagnosis), curative (remove diseased tissue), restorative (improve function), palliative (relieve symptoms without cure), and cosmetic (alter physical appearance).

What is diagnostic surgery?

Surgery performed to obtain tissue samples or explore areas to confirm a diagnosis, such as lymph node biopsies during staging laparotomy.

What is curative surgery?

Surgery intended to resolve disease by removing diseased tissue. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC stages I-IIIA) and gives the best chance for cure.

What is palliative surgery?

Surgery to relieve symptoms when cure is no longer possible. Examples include tumor debulking to relieve pain or pressure, colostomy for bowel obstruction relief, and laminectomy for spinal cord compression.

What is supportive surgery?

Surgery that maximizes bodily function or facilitates cancer treatment when cure or control is no longer possible.

What factors influence surgical setting?

Type of surgery, potential complications, and patient's health status determine where a patient can safely have surgery.

What is ambulatory (outpatient) surgery?

Surgery requiring less than 24-hour stay, often using minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopy. Patients typically go home with a caregiver within hours and recover at home.

What is inpatient surgery?

Surgery where patients are admitted to the hospital, usually on the day of surgery (same-day admission). Patients already hospitalized before surgery usually have acute or chronic medical conditions.

Why assess preoperative health status?

To identify comorbidities, assess response to surgical stress, review diagnostic test results, and identify potential risks and complications for planning care.

What preoperative assessments are done for lung cancer surgery?

Pulmonary function studies, ABGs, and anesthesia and critical care consults assess cardiopulmonary status and overall surgical risk.

What affects surgical survival rates?

Size of primary tumor, preexisting comorbidities, and extent of disease influence surgical outcomes and survival.