cheirourgía

Cheirourgía (χειρουργία) is the branch of medicine that deals with the operative treatment of injuries, diseases, and deformities through surgical procedures. The goal is to restore function, relieve symptoms, preserve life, and improve quality of life through techniques performed on tissues and organs, often in coordination with anesthesia, critical care, and rehabilitation.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the Greek cheir ("hand") and ergon ("work"), with the suffix -ia forming a field of study. Historically it referred to manual operation and evolved to denote surgery as a medical discipline. In modern use, cheirourgía encompasses all surgical specialties rather than a single operation type.

Scope of practice: Cheirourgía includes a wide range of specialties such as general, orthopedic, cardiovascular, neurosurgical, plastic and reconstructive, urological, pediatric, and thoracic surgery, among others. Surgical care typically spans preoperative assessment, the operative procedure, and postoperative management, with emphasis on patient safety, sterile technique, informed consent, and outcome monitoring. Advancements in imaging, minimally invasive techniques, and robotic assistance have broadened the range and precision of procedures.

History: Surgical practice has ancient roots in Greco-Roman medicine, with later development during the Middle Ages and a clinical revolution in the 19th century driven by anesthesia, antisepsis, and improved instrumentation. The 20th and 21st centuries saw subspecialization, organ transplantation, microsurgery, and technologically assisted operations becoming routine.

Education and training: Training in cheirourgía typically requires medical school followed by a residency in a surgical discipline, with optional fellowships for subspecialization; certification and licensure requirements vary by country.