外科手術資訊

Skin grafting is a surgical procedure in which a piece of healthy skin is removed from one area of the body (the donor site) and transplanted to another area (the recipient site) that has lost its protective skin covering. This procedure is essential for treating deep burns, large wounds, severe infections, or areas where skin has been removed due to skin cancer surgery. The graft provides a new protective barrier, prevents fluid loss, reduces the risk of infection, and promotes healing. Skin grafts can be "split-thickness," involving only the top layers of skin, or "full-thickness," which includes all layers of the skin and is used for more visible areas like the face.

A biopsy is a medical procedure that involves removing a small sample of tissue or cells from the body for examination under a microscope. It is a crucial diagnostic tool used to determine the presence, cause, or extent of a disease. Biopsies are most commonly performed to investigate abnormal tissue growths (tumors) to determine whether they are benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They can also be used to diagnose infections, inflammatory conditions, and autoimmune disorders. The information obtained from a biopsy is essential for doctors to formulate an accurate diagnosis and develop an effective, personalized treatment plan.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an advanced neurosurgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain. These electrodes produce electrical impulses that regulate abnormal impulses or affect certain cells and chemicals within the brain. The amount of stimulation is controlled by a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin in the upper chest, connected to the electrodes by a wire traveling under the skin. DBS is primarily used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia, particularly when medications are no longer effective or cause severe side effects. It can significantly reduce symptoms like tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia (slowness of movement), improving the patient's mobility and quality of life.

A craniotomy is a major neurosurgical procedure in which a section of the skull, called a bone flap, is temporarily removed to access the brain. This surgery is performed to treat a variety of severe neurological conditions, including brain tumors, aneurysms, blood clots (hematomas), traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy, or severe nerve pain. By opening the skull, the neurosurgeon can directly visualize and operate on the affected area of the brain. Once the underlying issue is addressed, the bone flap is typically replaced and secured with small titanium plates and screws. Craniotomies are complex procedures that require immense precision and are crucial for saving lives or preventing permanent neurological damage.

Aneurysm repair is a critical surgical procedure performed to treat an aneurysm, which is a weakened, bulging area in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can occur anywhere in the body, but they are most common and dangerous in the aorta (the body's main artery) or the brain. If an aneurysm continues to grow, the vessel wall becomes increasingly thin and risks rupturing, which causes massive internal bleeding and is often fatal. The goal of aneurysm repair is to reinforce the weakened artery, prevent rupture, and restore normal, safe blood flow.

Heart valve replacement is a major surgical procedure performed to replace one or more of the heart's four valves (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, or pulmonary) that are diseased or damaged. Healthy valves ensure that blood flows in the correct direction through the heart. When a valve fails to open fully (stenosis) or close tightly (regurgitation), the heart must work harder to pump blood, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and potentially heart failure. Valve replacement restores normal blood flow, relieves symptoms, and prolongs life. The replacement valve can be mechanical (made of durable materials like carbon and titanium) or biological (made from animal tissue, such as pig or cow, or human tissue).

A pacemaker insertion is a surgical procedure to implant a small electronic device, known as a pacemaker, into the chest. This device helps regulate the heart's electrical system, ensuring it beats at a normal, healthy rate. It is primarily used to treat arrhythmias—conditions where the heart beats too slowly (bradycardia), too fast, or irregularly. By sending low-energy electrical pulses to the heart muscle, a pacemaker prevents dangerous drops in heart rate, alleviating symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath, and significantly improving the patient's quality of life.

Angioplasty and stenting is a minimally invasive procedure used to open clogged or narrowed arteries, most commonly in the heart (coronary arteries). The procedure is often performed to treat conditions like angina (chest pain) or during a heart attack to quickly restore blood flow to the heart muscle. By widening the blocked artery and inserting a tiny wire mesh tube (stent) to keep it open, angioplasty helps alleviate symptoms and reduces the risk of future cardiovascular events. It is a life-saving intervention that significantly improves blood circulation without the need for open-heart surgery.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), commonly known as bypass surgery, is a major surgical procedure used to treat severe coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, become narrowed or blocked by a buildup of fatty plaque (atherosclerosis). This restricts blood flow, leading to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and a high risk of a heart attack. CABG aims to restore normal blood flow to the heart muscle by creating a new path (a bypass) around the blocked or narrowed sections of the artery. It is a life-saving procedure that relieves symptoms, improves heart function, and significantly reduces the risk of future heart attacks.

Endoscopic sinus surgery (also known as Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, or FESS) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and other conditions that cause blockages in the sinuses. The sinuses are hollow, air-filled cavities in the skull around the nose and eyes. When their drainage pathways become blocked due to inflammation, infection, or structural issues, mucus builds up, leading to chronic pain, pressure, congestion, and recurrent infections. Surgery is usually recommended when conservative treatments, such as antibiotics, nasal steroid sprays, and allergy management, have failed to provide relief. The goal of FESS is to widen the natural drainage pathways between the sinuses and the nose, allowing mucus to drain properly and air to circulate, thereby restoring the normal function of the sinuses.

Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to reconstruct or repair a perforated (torn) eardrum (tympanic membrane) and, in some cases, the small bones of the middle ear (ossicles). The eardrum separates the outer ear canal from the middle ear and vibrates in response to sound waves. A hole in the eardrum can be caused by chronic middle ear infections, trauma (such as inserting a cotton swab too deeply), sudden loud noises, or barotrauma (rapid changes in air pressure). A perforated eardrum can lead to hearing loss, recurrent ear infections, and a persistent discharge from the ear. Tympanoplasty aims to close the perforation, prevent water and bacteria from entering the middle ear, and improve or restore hearing.

Septoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to correct a deviated nasal septum. The septum is the wall of bone and cartilage that divides your nose into two separate nostrils. When this wall is significantly off-center or crooked—a condition known as a deviated septum—it can restrict airflow through one or both sides of the nose, making breathing difficult. A deviated septum can be present from birth or result from a nasal injury. Beyond breathing difficulties, it can contribute to frequent nosebleeds, chronic sinus infections (sinusitis), facial pain, and sleep apnea. Septoplasty aims to straighten and reposition the septum to the middle of the nose, thereby improving airflow, relieving nasal congestion, and enhancing overall quality of life.