Surgery and Its Alternatives: How to Make the Right Choices for Your Health - Hardcover

Dr. David McLanahan discusses those aspects of traditional surgery that many surgeons don't. He explains the tests you should have before surgery, lays out the advantages and disadvantages of the various anesthetic and surgical options, and provides precise and accessible descriptions of more than 200 operations—from coronary bypass and hernia repair to fibroid removal and hip replacement. He also explains the important new changes taking place in the field of surgery, such as the use of minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Sandra McLanahan helps you make informed decisions on when and how to use alternative and complementary medicine, either as a substitute for or as an aid to successful surgery. Should you need surgery, she helps you prepare for it, physically and mentally, with advice about nutrition, acupuncture, vitamins, and stress management techniques—all successfully shown to ease post-operative discomfort and speed recovery. If your illness is not an emergency, you may be able to save yourself from the unneeded dangers and side effects of an operation with her specific program of lifestyle changes.

Surgery And Its Alternatives lets you become familiar with the full range of healing choices, so you can make the best possible decisions about your health. The authors include remarkable stories of real people who have used these techniques to safely prevent the need to "go under the knife," or to get through surgery more easily and heal faster. Whether you are contemplating an operation, faced with an emergency procedure, or recovering from surgery, this invaluable guide is the comprehensive handbook you and your physician should own.

Dr. David McLanahan, M.D., her brother, is an experienced general surgeon with more than 30 years experience. In addition, he has been teaching medical students and surgical residents for the past 25 years. He is a past Chief of General Surgery at Pacific Medical Center in Seattle and Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He lives in Seattle, Washington.