General Surgery and its Specialties

•     Preparing for Surgery
•     Presurgical Testing
•     Preoperative Care
•     Post-Surgical Pain
•     Postoperative Care

Despite its name, general surgery is a surgical specialty. General surgeons are responsible for patient care before, during, and after surgery, as well as performing procedures for a wide range of common conditions. All surgeons must begin their training in general surgery, however many choose to specialize later. Despite the word "generic," general surgeons are highly competent surgeons who specialize in common abdominal concerns such as appendicitis, hernias, gallbladder procedures, stomach, and intestinal problems. General surgeons may specialize in a type of surgery, such as treating cancer or burns, that requires the surgeon to be able to conduct surgeries on numerous parts of the body, thus this focus on the abdomen is not absolute. General surgeons practice a wide range of surgical operations, and their broad-based education allows them to undertake a wide range of procedures in the course of their work. Some may choose to specialize, but others love the variety that a real general surgeon's day brings and perform a wide range of treatments. General surgeons are also able to work in a number of settings and with a wide range of medical teams and patients.