grades of complexity of surgery (classification according to NICE)

Last reviewed 01/2018

Surgery Grades:

Surgery Grades Examples
Minor
  • excising skin lesion
  • draining breast abscess

 

Intermediate
  • primary repair of inguinal hernia
  • excising varicose veins in the leg
  • tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy
  • knee arthroscopy
Major or Complex
  • total abdominal hysterectomy
  • endoscopic resection of prostate
  • lumbar discectomy
  • thyroidectomy
  • total joint replacement
  • lung operations
  • colonic resection
  • radical neck dissection

Reference: