difficult surgery

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult surgery" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a surgical procedure that is complex or challenging, often in a medical context. Example: "The patient underwent a difficult surgery that lasted several hours and required a skilled surgical team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Technically difficult surgery may also be required.

The New York Times

As for fistula, it's actually very difficult surgery.

The New York Times

"The surgeon told me if I didn't do surgery soon, I'd have a more difficult surgery later".

The New York Times - Sports

He then referred the patient to a surgeon who had experience with an unusual and difficult surgery: the removal of the first rib to widen the narrow opening.

The New York Times - Magazine

Early next year, Uganda will begin training surgeons from Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania to carry out the more difficult surgery.

The Guardian

AFTER almost a year of difficult surgery, during which it occasionally seemed dead, California's health-care reform plan abruptly leapt out of bed on December 17th.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

In medicine, for example, researchers in North Carolina are developing a VR system that holds considerable promise for particularly difficult surgeries.

Los Angeles Times

Born with essentially half a heart, Paul underwent a number of difficult surgeries and struggled with a host of problems associated with his condition.

HuffPost

In surgery, doctors use visual imagery from CAT scans to construct 3D models of a patient's anatomy, which is in turn used to locate tumors, practice difficult surgeries and place incisions.

Huffington Post

Often the window of opportunity for surgery is narrow and unnecessary delays make surgery difficult or impossible.

Cancer Imaging

"I know that the retina is difficult for surgery".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a surgical procedure, consider the specific aspect of difficulty you want to emphasize: complexity, risk, or required skill. Choose synonyms for "difficult" that reflect this nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult surgery" as a generic descriptor. Instead, specify why the surgery is difficult, such as due to the patient's condition, the location of the surgery, or the complexity of the procedure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult surgery" functions as an adjective + noun construction. The adjective "difficult" modifies the noun "surgery", indicating that the procedure is challenging or complex. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

HuffPost

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult surgery" is a commonly used phrase to describe a surgical procedure that is complex and challenging. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted. While versatile, it's important to provide context on why the surgery is considered difficult. Alternatives like "complex surgical procedure" or "challenging surgical intervention" can offer a more nuanced description. This phrase is frequently found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, making it suitable for diverse audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging surgical procedure

Replaces 'difficult' with 'challenging' and 'surgery' with 'surgical procedure', slightly increasing formality.

complex surgical operation

Substitutes 'difficult' with 'complex' and 'surgery' with 'surgical operation', emphasizing the intricacy of the procedure.

complicated surgical intervention

Uses 'complicated' instead of 'difficult' and 'surgical intervention' for 'surgery', indicating a more involved medical process.

demanding surgical case

Replaces 'difficult' with 'demanding', shifting the focus to the high level of skill and effort required.

intricate surgical process

Emphasizes the detailed and precise nature of the surgery by using 'intricate' instead of 'difficult'.

risky surgical endeavor

Highlights the potential dangers associated with the surgery, using 'risky' instead of 'difficult'.

delicate surgical procedure

Focuses on the precision and care required in the surgery by using 'delicate'.

arduous surgical task

Indicates the laborious and strenuous nature of the surgery with 'arduous'.

testing surgical operation

Implies that the surgery will push the limits of the surgical team's abilities by using 'testing'.

critical surgical undertaking

Stresses the importance and potential consequences of the surgery by using 'critical'.

FAQs

How can I describe the complexity of a surgery instead of saying "difficult surgery"?

Consider using terms like "complex surgery", "intricate surgery", or "complicated surgery" to emphasize the procedure's multifaceted nature.

When is it appropriate to use the term "difficult surgery"?

The term "difficult surgery" is appropriate when referring to a surgical procedure that requires a high level of skill, precision, and expertise due to factors such as the patient's condition, the location of the surgery, or the complexity of the procedure.

What are some alternatives to "difficult surgery" that highlight the risk involved?

You might use phrases like "risky surgery", "high-risk surgery", or "hazardous surgery" to emphasize the potential dangers associated with the procedure.

Is "difficult surgery" a formal or informal term?

"Difficult surgery" is a neutral term that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in more formal or scientific writing, you might prefer more precise terms like "complex surgical procedure" or "challenging surgical intervention".