In the US, approximately 40 to 50 million major surgeries are performed every year. Globally, the number may be more than 300 million. While there are many specific categories of surgery representing individual physiological systems, many procedures fall into the large category of general surgery.
General surgery encompasses the treatment of conditions of the alimentary tract, digestive tract, endocrine system, and breast, skin and soft tissue. General surgeons are required to have a broad range of skills and knowledge, enabling them to deal with all kinds of elective and emergency procedures. Many of these are minimally invasive thanks to technological advancements in the field of laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.
