Amazon.com description: Product Description: Every year, thousands of Americans undergo surgery. Although surgery is sometimes performed in emergency situations, most operations are planned and patients have time to ask questions, get second options, and make sure that surgery is the recommended treatment in a particular situation. Although surgery is often successful, sometimes things go wrong. According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Service's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, medical errors are one of the nation's leading causes of death and injury. They report that as many as 44,000 to 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as a result of medical errors.

This Sourcebook includes facts about inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures. It offers information to help patients better understand the surgical procedures they are considering. If offers descriptions of the most commonly performed types of surgery and lists questions patients may want to ask their doctors. A section on avoiding surgical risks and post-surgical complications helps readers learn about steps they can take to help ensure a successful recovery. A glossary and directory of resources are also included.