Surgical Specialties

For most operations, you will need an anaesthetic. The one that's right for you depends on your health and the type of surgery you will have. It will be given by an anaesthesiologist, a doctor trained to give safe and effective anaesthesia.

• General anaesthesia: drugs put you to sleep, relieve pain, and relax your muscles. A breathing tube may help you breathe while you are asleep.
• Regional anaesthesia: a local anaesthetic will be injected to “freeze” or numb the area where you are having surgery. Your anaesthesiologist may recommend that a small plastic tube (catheter) be inserted at your injection site to keep injecting medication for pain relief after the surgery is over.

An anaesthetic will:

• keep you from moving so the surgeon can operate
• prevent you from feeling pain
• cause you to not remember the operation (you may remember some things if you have a general anaesthetic)

Your anaesthetic is planned just for you, your health, and your operation. Your anaesthesiologist will stay with you during the operation to make sure you are not having pain. Your heart, lungs, and other vital organs will be watched very closely.

Is anaesthesia safe?

Anaesthesia is very safe. Major complications are rare. The risk of death from general anaesthesia is about 1 in 10,000. Your anaesthesiologist can discuss this with you further if you have any questions.

How can I lower any risks?

Making a few changes can significantly decrease your risk of serious complications from anaesthesia and surgery:

• If you smoke, try to stop smoking. Smoking increases the risk of pneumonia and other breathing complications after surgery. The longer you stop smoking, the better.
• If you are obese, try to lose weight. The risk of complications is significantly greater with obesity.
• If you are on any medications, take them as instructed.

Why can't I eat before surgery?

An empty stomach decreases your chance of vomiting during surgery. If you vomit, it can get into your lungs and cause serious illness or death.

Your surgery may be cancelled or delayed if do not fast as instructed, other than for prescribed medications.

Osler's General Surgery team includes surgeons with expertise in various areas, including:

• Breast cancer surgery
• Laparoscopic colorectal/TaTME surgery
• Open, laparoscopic, and e-TEP abdominal and groin hernia surgery (including paediatrics)
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and appendectomy
• Upper gastrointestinal surgery, including gastric cancer and paraesophageal hernia repair
• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
• Colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

If you need a general surgeon, your family doctor, nurse practitioner or specialist can refer you to one.

Osler's gynaecology team offers safe, compassionate care for women of all ages. They have expertise in a broad range of areas, including obstetrics, minimally-invasive gynaecologic surgery and infertility.

Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye disorders. Ophthalmologists perform day surgery at Peel Memorial and support emergency and inpatient units at all our sites. They include both comprehensive and subspecialty trained doctors in the following areas:

• Comprehensive ophthalmology
• Cataract surgery
• Medical retina
• Glaucoma
• Cornea and anterior segment disease
• Oculoplastics
• Paediatrics

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face and mouth. They work across all our sites and provide on-call care, including emergency care, in our Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centre.

These surgeons also provide elective inpatient and outpatient care in the following areas:

• correction of underlying dentofacial deformities (both acquired and developmental)
• trauma surgery
• odontogenic infections of the head and neck
• treatment of benign tumors and cysts of the mouth and jaws
• bone graft reconstruction of the upper and lower jaws
• dento-alveolar surgery for children, the infirm and those with mental or physical challenges

Any physician or dentist can refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Please note:

• We prioritize appointments based on medical urgency.
• The provincial health plan (OHIP) covers consultations for patients in the hospital with acute/active oral and maxillofacial surgery issues.
• OHIP does not cover fees for visits to the surgeon's private office and/or any dental radiographs required. Please discuss finances with the office staff when scheduling an appointment.

Twenty orthopaedic surgeons work across our three sites. They include physicians with musculoskeletal fellowship expertise in the following specialty areas:

• arthroplasty
• foot and ankle surgery
• hand and wrist surgery
• shoulder and elbow surgery
• sports surgery
• trauma surgery

Your primary care physician or specialist can refer you to an orthopedic surgeon. Please be assured that we prioritize consultations based on medical urgency.

Learn more about total knee or total hip replacement surgery. Learn more about our orthopedic surgeons.

Otolaryngologists are surgeons who treat diseases and conditions of the head and neck. Eight otolaryngologists provide these services across our three sites. Their specialities include:

• Head and neck oncology: Tumours of the mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), nose and sinuses, thyroid and parathyroid glands, salivary glands, and skin
• Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery: Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, scalp and neck, including reconstructive surgery following cancer treatment or trauma
• Rhinology: Diseases of the nose and sinuses (e.g. correction of deviated septum; surgery for nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis)
• Otology and neuro-otology: Diseases of the ears and the vestibular system, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders related to the inner ear
• Laryngology: Assessment and management of voice disorders
• Paediatric otolaryngology

Otolaryngologists often work with other specialists such as audiologists, speech therapists and respiratory therapists.

Our paediatric dental surgeons perform surgery on the mouth's teeth, bone and soft tissues. We are proud to provide safe, quality care to the youngest members of our community.

We conduct elective surgeries on outpatient children who need:

• dento-alveolar surgery
• corrections of minor malocclusion through orthodontic treatment
• management of odontogenic infections
• comprehensive treatment of dental caries, including pulp treatment, root canals, restorations and crowns
• management of dental traumas, including fractured, displaced and knocked-out teeth

Children are provided with general anaesthetic, as required. We prioritize consultations based on urgency. Your family dentist or local public health unit can refer your child for treatment by contacting one of our staff paediatric dentists directly.

Plastic surgery repairs, restores and enhances the body's appearance and function. Our full-time plastic surgeons treat a wide range of issues and provide care in numerous areas:

• breast
• skull and face
• hand, wrist or arm
• burns
• aesthetic surgery
• peripheral nerve
• skin cancer
• complex reconstruction

Our plastic surgeons practice at Brampton Civic, Etobicoke General and Peel Memorial.

Our thoracic surgeons provide diagnostic services and treatment to patients with:

• disorders of the lung and airway, esophagus mediastinum and chest wall
• cancerous and non-cancerous tumors
• chronic pulmonary diseases

If you require thoracic surgery, your care team will include radiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses and support staff who specialize in thoracic disease. Your treatment will be tailored to you and a thoracic nurse navigator will work with you throughout your care.

Osler's thoracic surgeons are nationally recognized leaders in innovative, advanced thoracic procedures. They also have clinics in Etobicoke, Brampton and Richmond Hill.

Urologists treat disorders of the urinary tract in men and women, and of the male genital tract. Our team is made up of some of Canada's best surgeons and health care professionals. They use the latest surgical techniques to provide advanced, thorough and personalized care.

We provide state-of-the-art, minimally invasive vascular care to treat the following conditions:

• aneurysm
• stroke due to carotid artery disease
• peripheral vascular disease
• venous access for dialysis patients
• varicose veins
• amputation prevention for patients with foot ulcers
• venous ulcers

We provide safe, effective day surgery for children. Learn more about what to expect if your child requires surgery at Osler.