Browse operations
Choose an operation to read about what it involves and to prepare for your discussion.
- Abdominoperineal resectionAlso known as: Removal of the rectum and anus with a permanent colostomyRemoval of the rectum and anus with a permanent colostomy, mainly for low rectal or anal cancer.
- AdrenalectomyAlso known as: Removal of an adrenal glandRemoval of an adrenal gland, usually by keyhole surgery, to treat a tumour or hormone problem.
- Anal fistula surgeryAlso known as: Fistula surgerySurgery to treat a small tunnel (fistula) near the back passage.
- Anterior resectionAlso known as: Rectum removal with bowel joinRemoval of the rectum, or the upper part of it, with the bowel joined back.
- AppendicectomyAlso known as: Appendix removalRemoval of the appendix, most often for appendicitis.
- Axillary lymph node clearanceAlso known as: Removal of the lymph nodes under the armRemoval of most of the lymph nodes under the arm, mainly for breast cancer that has spread to them.
- Bile duct explorationAlso known as: Removal of stones from the bile ductSurgery to remove gallstones from the main bile duct, often during gallbladder removal.
- Breast duct excision (microdochectomy)Also known as: Removal of a milk duct behind the nippleRemoval of one or more milk ducts behind the nipple to treat and diagnose nipple discharge.
- Breast lump excisionAlso known as: Breast lump removalRemoval of a lump from the breast.
- ColectomyAlso known as: Colon removalRemoval of part or all of the colon (large bowel).
- Debridement of necrotising soft tissue infectionAlso known as: Emergency removal of dead, infected tissueEmergency surgery to cut away infected and dead tissue caused by a rapidly spreading serious infection.
- Diagnostic laparoscopyAlso known as: Keyhole look inside the tummyKeyhole operation to look inside the tummy with a camera to find the cause of pain or illness.
- Distal pancreatectomyAlso known as: Removal of the tail of the pancreasRemoval of the body and tail of the pancreas, often together with the spleen.
- Drainage of breast abscessAlso known as: Draining a breast abscessDraining a collection of pus in the breast, by needle or a small operation.
- Drainage of perianal abscessAlso known as: Draining an abscess near the back passageEmergency drainage of pus from an abscess next to the anus.
- Emergency hernia repairAlso known as: Urgent repair of a trapped or strangulated herniaUrgent operation to release and repair a hernia that has become trapped, often with bowel inside it.
- Emergency laparotomyAlso known as: Emergency open operation on the tummyUrgent operation to open the tummy to find and treat a serious problem such as a hole, blockage, infection or bleeding.
- Epigastric hernia repairAlso known as: Repair of a hernia in the upper middle tummy wallRepair of a small hernia in the middle of the upper tummy, between the breastbone and belly button.
- Excision of lipomaAlso known as: Removal of a fatty lumpRemoval of a lipoma, a soft, slow-growing fatty lump under the skin.
- Excision of skin cystAlso known as: Removal of a sebaceous or epidermoid cystRemoval of a cyst in the skin, including its wall, to reduce the chance of it coming back.
- Femoral hernia repairAlso known as: Repair of a hernia below the groin creaseRepair of a hernia that appears just below the groin crease, which has a higher risk of becoming trapped.
- GastrectomyAlso known as: Removal of part or all of the stomachRemoval of part or all of the stomach, most often to treat stomach cancer.
- Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y)Also known as: Gastric bypass surgeryKeyhole weight-loss surgery that creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes the small bowel.
- HaemorrhoidectomyAlso known as: Piles surgerySurgery to remove piles (haemorrhoids).
- Hartmann's procedureAlso known as: Bowel removal with an end colostomyRemoval of a diseased part of the lower bowel, with the upper end brought out as a colostomy.
- Hiatus hernia repairAlso known as: Hiatus hernia surgeryRepair of a hernia where part of the stomach has pushed up through the gap in the diaphragm.
- Ileoanal pouch surgeryAlso known as: Restorative proctocolectomy (J-pouch)Removal of the colon and rectum, with a pouch made from small bowel joined to the anus.
- Incision and drainage of abscessAlso known as: Draining a skin abscessDraining a collection of pus under the skin through a small cut.
- Incisional hernia repairAlso known as: Scar hernia repairRepair of a hernia through the scar of a previous operation.
- Inguinal hernia repairAlso known as: Groin hernia repairRepair of a hernia in the groin.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomyAlso known as: Keyhole gallbladder removalKeyhole removal of the gallbladder, usually for gallstones.
- Laparoscopic fundoplicationAlso known as: Anti-reflux surgeryKeyhole surgery that wraps the top of the stomach around the lower gullet to stop stomach acid flowing back up.
- Lateral internal sphincterotomyAlso known as: Anal fissure surgerySmall operation to relax the anal muscle so a chronic anal fissure can heal.
- Left hemicolectomyAlso known as: Left colon removalRemoval of the left side of the colon.
- Liver resectionAlso known as: Removal of part of the liverRemoval of part of the liver, most often to treat tumours.
- Lymph node biopsy (excision)Also known as: Removing a lymph node to test itRemoval of an enlarged lymph node so that it can be examined under a microscope.
- MastectomyAlso known as: Breast removalRemoval of all of the breast tissue.
- OesophagectomyAlso known as: Removal of the gullet (oesophagus)Major operation to remove part or all of the gullet, usually for cancer, and rebuild it using the stomach.
- Parastomal hernia repairAlso known as: Repair of a hernia next to a stomaRepair of a hernia that has formed in the tummy wall beside a stoma.
- ParathyroidectomyAlso known as: Parathyroid gland removalRemoval of an overactive parathyroid gland in the neck.
- Pilonidal sinus surgeryAlso known as: Pilonidal cyst surgerySurgery for a sinus or abscess at the top of the buttock crease.
- RectopexyAlso known as: Rectal prolapse repairOperation to fix a prolapsed rectum back into place, usually by keyhole surgery.
- Repair of perforated peptic ulcerAlso known as: Emergency repair of a hole in the stomach or duodenumEmergency operation to close a hole in the stomach or first part of the small bowel caused by an ulcer.
- Right hemicolectomyAlso known as: Right colon removalRemoval of the right side of the colon.
- Rubber band ligation of haemorrhoidsAlso known as: Banding pilesClinic treatment where a small rubber band is placed around a pile so that it shrinks and falls off.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsyAlso known as: Checking the first lymph nodes under the armRemoval of the first lymph node or nodes under the arm, to check whether breast cancer has spread.
- Sigmoid colectomyAlso known as: Sigmoid colon removalRemoval of the sigmoid colon, the lower left part of the bowel.
- Sleeve gastrectomyAlso known as: Gastric sleeve surgeryKeyhole weight-loss surgery that removes most of the stomach, leaving a narrow tube.
- Small bowel resectionAlso known as: Small bowel removalRemoval of a section of the small bowel.
- SplenectomyAlso known as: Spleen removalRemoval of the spleen.
- Stoma formationAlso known as: Colostomy or ileostomyCreating an opening from the bowel on the tummy wall.
- Stoma reversalAlso known as: Closing an ileostomy or colostomyOperation to close a temporary stoma and rejoin the bowel so stool passes the normal way.
- ThyroidectomyAlso known as: Thyroid removalRemoval of all or part of the thyroid gland in the neck.
- Umbilical hernia repairAlso known as: Belly button hernia repairRepair of a hernia at or near the belly button.
- Whipple procedureAlso known as: Whipple operation (pancreaticoduodenectomy)Major operation to remove the head of the pancreas and nearby structures, mainly for cancer.