MaineHealth surgeons are trained in complex surgical treatments and deliver high quality care for patients in need of emergency surgery. Emergency surgery is designed to deal quickly with problems that can be life-threatening. It involves patient resuscitation and stabilization, preparing the patient for surgery, and post-operative and recovery procedures.
What is emergency surgery?
When a medical emergency occurs, sometimes surgery needs to be done immediately. Emergency surgery may be necessary to save a patient’s life or stop damage to their body. In some cases patients go to the emergency department with a complaint and do not realize they are very ill.
Emergency medicine doctors are trained to evaluate patients for serious medical problems. Sometimes a serious diagnosis is found and the patient needs immediate treatment. An ambulance may be called to transport a patient badly injured or not breathing. A patient who is transported by an ambulance will be assessed, and care will start immediately by paramedics or other trained emergency medical personnel.
What conditions require emergency surgery?
Medical conditions that may require emergency surgery include:
- Acute respiratory failure
- Severe trauma to the head, chest, abdomen or extremities
- Severe burns
- Cardiac events, such as heart attacks, cardiac shock and cardiac arrhythmia
- Aneurysms
- Neurological conditions/brain conditions
- Abdominal emergencies such as perforated ulcer, appendicitis, cholecystitis (gallbladder infection), or bowel blockage
What happens after emergency surgery?
After emergency surgery, antibiotics are often given to prevent infection, along with medication to control pain. Recovery time will depend on the patient’s condition. It can take days or weeks to recover. Rehabilitation therapy is often necessary.
Patients who require a ventilator to breathe will typically remain in the intensive care unit (ICU) until they are able to breathe without assistance.
