Surgical excision is the removal of tissue using a sharp instrument, usually a scalpel and is usually aimed a specific tissue. Surgical excision can involve major surgery, as in removing cancerous tumors from the spine, aorta, or breast, or it can involve minor surgery, as in removing a benign skin cyst or malignant skin cancer. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, all surgeries carry risks of side effects and complications along with benefits. Surgical excision side effects vary depending on the extent of the excision and body part treated.
Infections
Although not all surgeries involve excision, all surgical excisions involve surgery. Consequently, one of the most common surgical excision side effects is infection, regardless of whether the excision involves a cyst on the surface of the skin, or excision of diseased valve tissues from the heart. Despite every precaution taken to prevent infections, it is impossible to prevent all surgery site infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 70 percent of such infections are superficial and can be treated with antibiotics. Of the 30 percent of those with serious infections, however, up to 50 percent are caused by MRSA, a form of the S. aureus bacterium, which is resistant to many antibiotics.
Bleeding
In less extensive surgery, such as wide-excision of melanoma for example, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists bleeding as a common side effect of surgical excision. Prior to major surgeries to perform excisions involving internal organs, the Merck Manual of Medical Information notes that doctors may order tests of the patient's blood for clotting function, check the patient's medications, and take other precautions to minimize the risk of excessive bleeding during the surgery.
Unintended Injury
The more technically challenging the excision, the greater the risk of unintended injury to nearby nerves, muscle, organs or other tissues. For this reason, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends choosing a surgeon with substantial experience in the particular procedure being considered. In less extensive surgery, such as a simple excision for skin cancer, Cancer Research UK states that the surgeon may need to remove a margin of healthy tissue to ensure that all the cancer is excised, thus scarring healthy tissue. Other localized surgical excisions may produce more extensive side effects. Total mesenteric excision, or TME, for example, involves removing a rectal tumor and some surrounding tissue, according to Cancer Research UK. This can impair rectum function and require a permanent colostomy.
Pain
The Merck Manual states that pain can be an expected side effect after most surgical excisions. Pain-relieving drugs, however, are usually effective. Complications of post-surgery pain often occur as side effects of the pain medication. These can include constipation, confusion and agitation, blurred vision, loss of bladder control, or urinary blockage.
References
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: What Are the Benefits of Having an Operation?
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Surgical Site Infection
- The Merck Manual of Medical Information -- Second Home Edition: Surgery
- Research UK: Surgery for Skin Cancer
- Stanford Medicine Cancer Center: Total Mesorectal Excision Surgery
