Also called non-urgent, time-sensitive surgery
When kids and teens need surgery, the procedure can be:
- urgent or emergency surgery: These are surgeries done for urgent, possibly life-threatening medical conditions, such as a serious injuries from an accident, testicular torsion, or acute appendicitis.
- elective surgery: These are procedures that patients need, but they don't have to be done right away. Calling a surgery "elective" might make it sound optional, but that's not always so. An elective procedure is planned in advance, unlike an emergency surgery.
What Are Common Elective Surgeries?
A wide range of surgical procedures can be elective, such as:
- cosmetic surgeries
- cleft lip repair
- ear tube surgery
- tonsillectomies
- removing the tonsils and/or adenoids to treat obstructive sleep apnea
- bariatric (weight loss) surgery