Articles by Kathryn Senior on How to Prepare For and Recover From An Operation
Surgery for Gallstones
Most people with gallstones never notice them, but if they cause pain, surgery is usually the only way to treat them properly.
20th October 2011
Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery
When the trigeminal nerve gets compressed, severe facial pain strikes—here's how surgery can help when medication falls short.
11th April 2011
New Breast Construction Techniques
Modern surgical options can restore breast appearance after cancer treatment, from immediate reconstruction to delayed procedures.
11th April 2011
Lymph Node Removal and What It Reveals
Understanding what lymph node removal reveals about cancer diagnosis and treatment options.
11th April 2011
Who Needs Mole Removal?
Moles need to be removed if they become cancerous, which can develop from sun damage and turn into deadly melanoma.
8th April 2011
Hospital Parking Charges
Hospital parking charges cost around £1.05 per hour and can lead to fines or clamping when appointments run late.
8th April 2011
Acoustic Neuroma Surgery
Acoustic neuroma surgery removes benign ear tumours affecting hearing and balance, with symptoms including hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and nausea.
8th April 2011
What Is Stereotactic Radiosurgery?
Stereotactic radiosurgery uses highly focused radiation beams to treat tumours with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
6th April 2011
What Is Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
A surgical procedure that relieves pressure on the median nerve in your wrist to stop hand pain, tingling and numbness.
6th April 2011
Surgery for Gall Bladder Cancer
Surgery is the main treatment for gall bladder cancer, with success depending on how early the cancer is caught and whether it has spread.
16th December 2010
Adenoids: Why Are They Removed?
Adenoid removal used to be routine for kids with sore throats, but doctors now preserve these infection-fighting glands when possible.
16th December 2010
New Developments in Coronary Angioplasty
Recent advances in coronary angioplasty show how the procedure has become safer and more effective at treating angina and heart disease.
15th December 2010
What Is a Biopsy?
A biopsy takes a tissue sample from your body to test for conditions like cancer, ranging from simple cell scraping to surgical removal.
15th December 2010
Statistics on MRSA and Surgery
MRSA infections linked to surgery have become a serious problem in hospitals since the 1960s, with detailed UK statistics tracking its spread.
15th December 2010
How Sedation Works
General anaesthesia puts you completely to sleep for major surgery, while local anaesthetics keep you awake but pain-free for less invasive procedures.
15th December 2010
Heart Valve Replacement
Heart valves control blood flow through your heart, and when they fail, surgery may be needed to replace them and restore circulation.
15th December 2010
Repairing Torn Shoulder Ligaments
Torn shoulder ligaments cause severe pain and often need surgery, so getting emergency care quickly is crucial to prevent further damage.
14th July 2010
The Intricacies of Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgeons repair blood vessels from major arteries to tiny capillaries, handling everything from varicose veins to life-threatening aneurysms.
14th July 2010
Having a Knee Replacement
Get relief from arthritis pain with knee replacement surgery, a routine procedure that restores mobility within three months.
14th July 2010
How Successful Are Heart-Lung Transplants?
Heart-lung transplants have a 73% one-year survival rate, with most recipients gaining years of active life after the procedure.
14th July 2010
Having a Hip Replacement
Hip replacement surgery removes damaged cartilage and bone, replacing them with artificial joints to relieve arthritis pain and restore mobility.
14th July 2010
What Does a Liver Transplant Involve?
A liver transplant is major surgery with a 60% survival rate at 15 years, typically for patients with end-stage disease from hepatitis or alcohol damage.
14th July 2010
Surgery for Prostate Cancer
When prostate cancer surgery is needed, your doctor may recommend removing the gland entirely to stop the cancer from spreading further.
14th July 2010
Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy
Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy for breast cancer treatment and understand which surgery might be right for you.
14th July 2010
Laser Surgery to Prevent Blindness
Laser surgery can seal off abnormal blood vessels in the eye to help prevent blindness from conditions like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
17th March 2010
How Can an Operation Cure Excessive Sweating?
Surgery for excessive sweating works by disabling the nerves that trigger your sweat glands to overproduce.
17th March 2010
Can Robots Perform Operations?
Robotic surgery systems give surgeons precise control for delicate operations like heart surgery and prostate removal.
17th March 2010
I Had My Spine Fused: A Case Study
Jeff's chronic back pain forced a choice between surgery and redundancy, here's what happened after his spine fusion.
15th March 2010
I Had My Finger Sewn Back On: A Case Study
A teenager's severed finger was successfully reattached after a factory accident, and she's now living her life to the fullest.
15th March 2010
Blood Transfusion Facts
Blood donations worldwide total 85 million yearly, but wealthy countries hoard supplies while developing nations face severe shortages.
15th March 2010
Having a Liver Transplant
What to expect when you're waiting for and undergoing a liver transplant surgery.
12th March 2010
Amazing Surgery Firsts
Surgery has come a long way from drilling holes in skulls thousands of years ago to performing heart transplants and other groundbreaking procedures today.
11th March 2010
I Needed Breast Reconstruction: A Case Study
Hannah's journey through breast cancer treatment and why she chose reconstruction surgery after her mastectomy.
18th February 2009
I Needed a Triple Heart Bypass: A Case Study
A fit man in his 60s discovers he needs urgent triple heart bypass surgery after routine tests reveal three blocked coronary arteries.
18th February 2009
Organ Donation: Facts and Figures
More people need organ transplants than ever before, and there simply aren't enough organs available to meet the demand.
17th February 2009
Transplants Facts and Figures
See the key milestones in organ transplant history and current survival rates for people who receive new organs.
17th February 2009
Varicose Vein Stripping
Varicose vein stripping removes bulging veins in the legs caused by faulty valves, with options ranging from compression stockings to surgical removal.
13th February 2009
My Knee Replacement Went Wrong: A Case Study
A man's routine knee replacement surgery takes a dangerous turn, leaving him to uncover what went wrong in his hospital care.
13th February 2009
I Had Keyhole Surgery for Gallstones: A Case Study
One woman's experience with sudden, severe pain that led to a gallstone diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery.
10th February 2009
A Hernia Repair
Understand what an inguinal hernia is, why repair is important, and what to expect from the surgical procedure.
10th February 2009