If you have ever undergone a surgical procedure, it means you had to put a lot of faith in the competency of the surgeon who operated on you. While hospitals like Guys St. Thomas Hospitals provide only the best surgeons, some patients may feel better if they knew the type of surgeons they could come across on a visit to the hospital.
Here are five types of surgical doctors that work in hospitals.
General Surgeons
The job description of a general surgeon follows the title; this person has a broad knowledge and understanding of human anatomy, basic surgical procedures, and post-surgical recuperation and care. This type of surgeon will handle many different types of patients, performing basic surgical procedures depending on their medical needs. Many hospitals will have a general surgeon constantly available in their trauma or intensive care units to perform operations on emergency cases that are rushed in.
Vascular Surgeons
Vascular surgeons are typically called in to operate on individuals that have conditions relating to the veins and the arteries. The human circulatory system transports oxygen-rich blood through the veins, around the body, and through the heart. Sometimes, complications can arise to damage the circulatory system, like peripheral vascular disorder or varicose veins. When complications like this arise, vascular surgery is usually required, and a vascular surgeon will be called to operate on the maladapted patient.
Orthopaedic Surgeons
The job of an orthopaedic surgeon is to prevent, diagnose, and treat any disorders in their patients’ bones, muscles, ligaments, joints, and tendons. Many orthopaedic surgeons are general surgeons, treating every joint and part of the musculoskeletal system. Others are more specialized surgeons, choosing to focus on specific parts of the body like the foot and ankle, hip and knee, the back, the neck and shoulder, or the elbow and hand. Most orthopaedic surgeons will opt to treat their patients using nonsurgical means like rehabilitation or pain management. If the patient’s case is serious, however, they have the necessary expertise to perform surgical operations.
Obstetric and Gynecologic Surgeons
When women go into the hospital due to high-risk complications in their pregnancies or other reproductive health challenges like infertility, ovarian cancer, or benign growths, obstetric and gynecologic surgeons must be called in to treat their conditions. Generally, these surgeons are responsible for the treatment of a woman’s reproductive structures, including the vagina, the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and the uterus.
Pediatric Surgeons
When a child is ill, injured, or dealing with a disease that requires surgical intervention, the hospital will refer that child to the office of a pediatric surgeon. Pediatric surgeons are trained and licensed to provide the proper diagnosis, treatment, and management of any surgical needs that children may have. These include surgical procedures for groin anomalies in the childhood or adolescent stage, repairing any possible birth defects, bronchoscopies, and other procedures that children may require.
