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Elective surgery vs. emergency surgery -

The type of surgery being performed, and the urgency of the operation, can have huge effects on the outcome. Most operations can be divided between elective surgeries and emergency surgeries. Generally, elective surgeries have higher rates of success because of the time available for both doctors and patients to prepare, while emergency surgeries are done in a flash, and often performed by overtired, overworked emergency workers.

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Robert Liston and the deadliest operation in history -

Regardless of which type of surgery is considered the most dangerous, there is one single operation that has, for centuries, reigned supreme as the the deadliest surgical operation in the world. The operation was performed by Robert Liston, a celebrated surgeon of the early 19th century renowned for his incredible operational speed, which, in a world without anesthesia, was an important quality in a surgeon.

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Robert Liston and the deadliest operation in history -

One amputation performed by Liston, however, might have been a bit too rushed. Liston amputated a patient's leg in just over two minutes, but accidently took off a few of his assistant's fingers in the process. An observer of the surgery, frightened out of his wits, passed out from the spectacle. The patient and the assistant both died of infections some time later, while the frightened observer died from shock. These three deaths, directly or indirectly caused by Liston, earned the surgery an unprecedented 300% mortality rate.

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Craniectomy -

Craniectomies are some of the most commonly performed brain surgeries that don't involve neurosurgeons. They are most often performed as emergency surgeries after events of head trauma or strokes.

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Craniectomy -

Craniectomies require a piece of the skull to be removed so that surgeons can access what's underneath, which can lead to very serious complications. A wrong move of the tiniest deviation can cause permanent brain damage, paralysis, or dangerous internal bleeding between the brain and the scalp.

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Coronary artery bypass -

Heart surgery is at once one of the most dangerous and most lifesaving operations in the world of surgery. Working with the body's most important organ can be extremely dangerous, but sometimes it's the only chance to save a patient's life.

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Coronary artery bypass -

Coronary artery bypasses are particularly dangerous, even within the realm of heart surgeries. The operation involves grafting new veins and arteries around the heart and bypassing them around the patient's thinning, unhealthy arteries. If something goes wrong, the patient can experience strokes, heart failure, and even death.

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Gluteoplasty -

The most dangerous elective surgery in the world, which has risen dramatically in popularity during the 2020s, is a gluteoplasty. Colloquially known as a BBL, a gluteoplasty is a cosmetic operation that extracts fat from various places on a patient's body and injects it into their rear end.

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Gluteoplasty -

So what makes gluteoplasties so dangerous? Careless or excessive extraction of body fat and the reintroduction of that fat into the buttocks can cause serious nerve damage, ranging from numbness to intense pain. Gluteoplasties can easily lead to death in the case of a fat embolism, when fat is introduced into the bloodstream.

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Bariatric surgery -

Bariatric surgery is performed in order to remove excess fat from the body, for both cosmetic and medical reasons such as treating type-2 diabetes.

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Bariatric surgery -

Botched bariatric operations can cause a patient to develop ulcers, the dangerous dumping syndrome - a condition which causes food to rush through the stomach and into the intestines without being properly digested -  or bowel obstruction.

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Colectomy -

A partial colon removal, also known a colectomy, can be a lifesaving procedure in cases of internal bleeding, bowel obstruction, and colon cancer. However, the large intestine of the colon can often suffer as a result of the surgery.

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Colectomy -

Pulmonary embolisms, or the introduction of blood into the lungs, are common and dangerous side effects of a colectomy. Other harmful consequences can include recurring pelvic abscesses.

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Esophagectomy -

The esophagus—which carries food and liquid from your mouth, through your throat, and into your stomach—may have to be removed via an esophagectomy is you're suffering from esophageal cancer.

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Esophagectomy -

The operation requires the complete removal of the esophagus, leaving a wide, empty space in your throat, which can easily cause excessive bleeding. The esophagus must then be reconstructed, and if anything goes wrong during the reconstruction process, a patient can experience infections, internal bleeding, and sometimes death.

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Cholecystectomy -

Despite being one of the most common emergency surgeries performed in hospitals, the cholecystectomy remains one of the riskiest operations out there.

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Cholecystectomy -

In simple terms, a cholecystectomy is performed in order to remove gallstones, or a patient's entire gallbladder. The gallbladder is situated very close to numerous important bloodstreams, the liver, and the intestines. If any of these neighboring parts of the body get nicked during a cholecystectomy, the consequences can be fatal.

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Spinal osteomyelitis surgery -

Spinal surgery is naturally one of the most difficult operations a surgeon can perform. It also carries an intrinsically dramatic risk of failure, considering how important the spine and the central nervous system are to the rest of the body's functions.

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Spinal osteomyelitis surgery -

Osteomyelitis is a rare infection that attacks the top of the spinal chord, causing great pain and hindering proper brain function. Surgery performed to remove the infection can save a patient's life, but one wrong move can leave them paralyzed.

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Small bowel resection -

Small bowel resections are commonly performed in hospitals around the world to treat anything from infections, cancer, blockages, and noncancerous tumors.

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Small bowel resection -

Bowel resection scars are particularly prone to tearing, which can cause further intestinal blockages, hernias, or internal bleeding.

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Thoracic aortic dissection repair -

An emergency thoracic aortic dissection repair is necessary when a person's aorta, the most important artery in the heart that distributes blood throughout the vein system, becomes damaged. Aortic dissections can lead to strokes or even death if left untreated.

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Thoracic aortic dissection repair -

Performing surgery on one of the most important parts of the body is naturally dangerous, and while a successful aortic dissection repair can be lifesaving, anything less than a perfect performance on the part of the surgeon can lead to an exponentially increased risk of stroke, bleeding, or death.

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Appendectomy -

Appendectomies are performed on patients with appendicitis, an infection that can cause one's appendix to burst.

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Appendectomy -

Appendectomies are invasive operations and often a race against time. If a rushed appendectomy goes wrong, severe internal bleeding can lead to numerous serious health concerns.

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Cardiopulmonary bypass -

One of the riskiest emergency surgeries in the world is a cardiopulmonary bypass. The surgery involves a machine, casually referred to as "the pump," which takes over the functions of the heart and lungs during an open-heart surgery.

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Cardiopulmonary bypass -

If the artificial heart-and-lung machine isn't closely monitored, any minute malfunction can quickly lead to widespread organ failure and death. Cardiopulmonary bypasses are usually reserved by doctors as a last resort.

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Separation of conjoined twins -

The rare phenomenon of conjoined twins can change the lives of both parents and their newborn children. Twins sharing a womb can develop with inseparably connected body parts, such as the hip, the head, or even head to bellybutton.

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Separation of conjoined twins -

Sixty percent of conjoined twins enter the world stillborn, and most won't survive infancy. In the case where conjoined twins have a chance of being surgically separated and saved, the operation itself is incredibly risky. Twins who share important organs may not survive the surgery.

Sources: (Grunge) (Next Luxury) (The Guardian)

See also: Stars who've had their appendix, tonsils, or gallbladder removed

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