Surgery, as defined by the American Medical Association, is the treatment of disease, injury, or other disorders by direct physical intervention, usually with instruments. Surgery involves cutting into the skin or other organs to accomplish any of the following goals:

• further explore the condition for the purpose of diagnosis
  
  
• take a biopsy of a suspicious lump
  
  
• remove diseased tissues or organs
  
  
• remove an obstruction
  
  
• reposition structures to their normal position
  
  
• redirect channels
  
  
• transplant tissue or whole organs
  
  
• implant mechanical or electronic devices
  
  
• improve physical appearance

Many children face surgery every year. Some operations are elective procedures, others are required procedures and, in some cases, surgery is an emergency response to an urgent medical condition.

The entire family should expect to go through several phases when your child is having surgery, including the following.

• surgical diagnosis
  Surgical diagnosis is based upon medical tests and evaluations when a condition requiring surgery is suspected.
  
  
• preoperative management
  The preoperative phase begins when surgery is decided on and continues until your child is brought to the operating room.
  
  
• intraoperative care
  The intraoperative care phase lasts from the time your child enters the operating room until he/she goes to the recovery room.
  
  
• postoperative management
  The postoperative phase lasts from the time your child enters the recovery room through follow-up visits with the surgeon.