What is considered the most serious,risky surgery?

[beachbutterfly]

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

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

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

The obesity is quite a comorbidity. Some end up having respiratory issues. Healing can be a concern based on diet. Anastamotic leaks are awful as well, not to mention bleeding. Our bariatric surgeons are also very good, we've seen less complications over the years, but the patients being the type they are set them up for more issues.

[beachbutterfly]

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.

i see your point but plastic surgeries in general are considered low risk surgery and it is very rare to die from a such procedures unless the pt has reaction to an anasthesia,or basically did the surgery in some cheap,dirty place, or had cormobidity or some sort of infection.I mean you can get HIV in any tatoo place if the workers break the sterile field,but that doesnt mean that people will stop piercing part of their body or getting tatoos,people are people and they will take adventage of the new technology if they can,I'm not judging if it is wrong or right I'm just saying.

[beachbutterfly]

The obesity is quite a comorbidity. Some end up having respiratory issues. Healing can be a concern based on diet. Anastamotic leaks are awful as well, not to mention bleeding. Our bariatric surgeons are also very good, we've seen less complications over the years, but the patients being the type they are set them up for more issues.

I agree that patients who are obsese are at the higher risk for complication,not only due to respiratory problems but also from the technical point of view....Then you got your COPD patients who might not tolerate general anesthesia well but can be given epidural shot and of course people on different types of meds and with present infections.I guess the anasthesia is the big one.