Written especially for patients and allied healthcare students by experts in the field, the Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery provides in-depth coverage of approximately 450 surgical procedures and related topics, such as anesthetics, medications and postoperative care. Entries for surgical procedures follow a consistent format, covering definition; purpose; demographic information; diagnosis/preparation; aftercare; risks; morbidity and mortality rates; alternatives; and more.Additional features include 175 full-color illustrations and photographs; bibliographies of further reading sources; a glossary of medical terminology; appendices listing top centers for specific surgical procedures and national organizations and support groups for patients; and a comprehensive index. Some of the topics featured include:Angioplasty Arthroscopy Biopsy Cardiopulmonary bypass Cryosurgery Endoscopy Hysterectomy Laser surgery Microsurgery Organ transplantation Prosthesis implantation Tendon transfer And many others.