The 6 Most Complicated Medical Surgeries
Every surgery requires the skill and precision of an experienced surgeon, but some procedures are more complex than others and demand an even greater level of skill.
These six procedures are some of the most complicated medical surgeries in the world.
1. Thoracic Aortic Dissection Repair
Thoracic aortic dissection repair is an emergency procedure to repair a tear in the aorta, your body’s main artery. A tear in the aorta prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the body’s organs.
The surgery to repair the tear is incredibly complex and typically requires open-heart surgery that can take 4-6 hours to complete.
2. Craniectomy
A craniectomy is a complex surgical procedure that involves removing a portion of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain. The life-saving procedure is typically performed on those with severe brain injuries with swelling and bleeding so severe that it could lead to brain compression and death.
Infection, bleeding and further brain damage are major risks of the procedure. However, those who undergo this procedure are generally in critical condition and likely have already sustained brain damage.
3. Coronary Revascularization
Coronary revascularization is a procedure that’s meant to improve blood flow to the heart. The procedure is performed when there is a severe blockage in the coronary arteries.
The procedure can be performed one of two ways:
Open-heart or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This procedure re-routes blood around the affected artery using other arteries or veins in the body.
Placing a stent in the artery to open it up. With this procedure, a small tube is typically placed in a vessel in the wrist.
Both procedures are complex, and serious complications can include injury to the arteries, infection and blood clots.
4. Surgical Ventricular Restoration
After a heart attack, surgical ventricular restoration may be performed to restore the heart’s regular size and shape. This procedure may also be performed on patients with heart failure or enlarged hearts caused by:
Hypertensive cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy
The complicated procedure requires the patient’s heart to be stopped and put on a heart-lung machine. Surgeons open the heart, remove an aneurysm or scar tissue (if present) and attempt to reshape the left ventricle.
Reshaping the heart can help improve the heart’s pumping action, but it’s not a cure for heart failure.
5. Septal Myectomy
A septal myectomy procedure removes a portion of the thickened septum between the ventricles. The procedure is incredibly complex, taking 3-6 hours to complete and requiring a stay in the ICU afterward. To make the procedure even more complicated, it requires the heart to be motionless.
The surgery is performed on patients with a thick heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).
6. Spinal Osteomyelitis Surgery
Patients with vertebral osteomyelitis may require spinal osteomyelitis surgery. Vertebral osteomyelitis is a rare infection of the spine that’s caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Surgery may be performed to remove pus from the infected area or to stabilize the vertebrae to prevent collapse.
Any surgery on the spine comes with significant risks, including partial or complete paralysis.
These six surgeries are some of the most complicated, requiring hours to complete and extensive experience.
