What is considered the most serious,risky surgery?

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I was wondering if anyone knows what is considered the most risky,dangerous as well the painful surgery? I'm going over my notes for the NCLEX and I keep running into all those contraindications for spinal surgery (I'm interested in neuro, and I could see myself working in the neuro rehab unit) Well anyway back to the subject I always thought that the heart or brain surgery would be the most risky one but like I stated before I keep reading that some drugs are contraindicated in the recent spinal injury or invasive procedure for that matter since there is a high risk for bleeding,I know you can get the infection easily and the procedure is one of the most painful one... sorry for the stupid question but I'm seeking a clarification.Also

It's not the surgery, it's the surgeon. AND the anesthesiologist.

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My vote would be for the multiple organ transplant surgeries. It is weird but people usually get thru multiple organ transplant surgery alive but the recovery period after is a field strewn with land mines.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I have heard (but have no stats to back it up) that gastric bypass has the highest morbidity/mortality rate....but I'm not sure if it falls under more elective vs necessary surgery to get that rank (a dissecting AAA must be addressed, gastric bypass is always a choice). I have seen them go very, very well, but when they go bad, they REALLY go bad.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Bear in mind, too, that risk assessment can turn on it's head depending on the underlying problems the patient brings into surgery and the type of anesthesia involved.

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Oooh, I don't know... some of the repairs for congenital heart defects are really complex, very lengthy and result in a very sick baby. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return is notoriously bad. And then there are the conjoined twin separations. Yeesh, long, difficult and very risky.

I heard that congenital heart defect surgeries in general are quiet safe,uncomplicated procedue

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Sorry to get off topic but this needed to be addressed.

You probably heard this with regards to chronic back pain. Do not let a chiropractor EVER mess with anyone who has any acute problem with their vertebrae. High velocity maneuvers on an unstable spine spells disaster.

A chiropractor's place is with chronic low back pain and pretty much nothing else. For clearly minor acute MSK strain I personally have found they also do a pretty good job. For anyone requiring surgery from spondylolysis or even spondylolisthesis do not let your patient go to a chiropractor first.

Most dangerous surgeries are anything in which the surgeon is trying to catch up: Major trauma, disections, ruptures aneurysms, etc. The process has already started to compromise the patients.

Things like normal aneurism repairs, while risky are no where near as bad as when the aneurism has already ruptured

I dont know I heard quiet opposite,I have read success stories where chiropractic practice was much involved.

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I have heard (but have no stats to back it up) that gastric bypass has the highest morbidity/mortality rate....but I'm not sure if it falls under more elective vs necessary surgery to get that rank (a dissecting AAA must be addressed, gastric bypass is always a choice). I have seen them go very, very well, but when they go bad, they REALLY go bad.

Wow that is really scary and at the same time very suprising,I never though that gastroplasty would be so unsafe....

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My vote would be for the multiple organ transplant surgeries. It is weird but people usually get thru multiple organ transplant surgery alive but the recovery period after is a field strewn with land mines.

great idea,I agree plus what is it like 3 to 5 years and another transplant is needed?

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It's not the surgery, it's the surgeon. AND the anesthesiologist.

True to only certain degree,sometimes it beyond the surgery team's power to treat compications.

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I have heard (but have no stats to back it up) that gastric bypass has the highest morbidity/mortality rate....but I'm not sure if it falls under more elective vs necessary surgery to get that rank (a dissecting AAA must be addressed, gastric bypass is always a choice). I have seen them go very, very well, but when they go bad, they REALLY go bad.

it must be compared to other elective procedures. Bypass is actually pretty safe. The bariatric surgery team at my hospital has never had a perioprative fatality.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

I would think anything puncturing the dura mater would be toward the top of the list.

But my opinion? Anything that is done strictly for cosmetic reasons. I don't mean repair of something that's damaged or illformed -- the guy with the "tree root" foot could get around, but it's not a healthy foot. I mean getting your roman nose turned more "pert" or getting bigger boobs -- that sort of thing. I'm not going to let anyone expose me to clots, MRSA, sepsis, adhesions, "whoops, where's the sponge? miss counts" etc., unless my life would be endangered if I didn't.

I've seen people die from something as simple as repairing an umbilical hernia -- no entrapment, the lady just didn't like having an "outie" after she had a child, the surgeon went in to do the repair, nicked the bowel, and she died. For a cute bellybutton.

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it must be compared to other elective procedures. Bypass is actually pretty safe. The bariatric surgery team at my hospital has never had a perioprative fatality.

I think it would only be unsafe if the pt had a delayed wound healing.

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