What are the reasons for having surgery?

Columbia University Department of Surgery

There are two main reasons for recommending surgery:

To prevent death or catastrophic illness
To relieve symptoms

It may sound simplistic, but remember: no operation will make you feel better if you aren’t suffering from symptoms. For example, if your heart valve is not working properly, but you don’t have shortness of breath or chest pain, you won’t experience improvement in how you feel after the operation. What you will experience is the peace of mind knowing you’ve substantially reduced your chance of dying from a heart attack in the near future.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

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What are the reasons for having surgery?

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