title: Prophylactic surgery prior to extended-duration space flight: is the benefit worth the risk?
abstract: This article explores the potential benefits and defined risks associated with prophylactic surgical procedures for astronauts before extended-duration space flight. This includes, but is not limited to, appendectomy and cholecystesctomy. Furthermore, discussion of treatment during space flight, potential impact of an acute illness on a defined mission and the ethical issues surrounding this concept are debated in detail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. ball.chad@gmail.com
authors.forename: Chad G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Polk
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vanderploeg
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Broderick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D018480:Astronauts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013026:Space Flight; D013997:Time Factors