do an operation

[guicoelho]

Can you say that a doctor "does an operation" or only "performs an operation"?

eg: "I did a difficult operation this morning operation."

Thanks a bunch,

Gui.

[abaka]

Can you say that a doctor "does an operation" or only "performs an operation"?

eg: "I did a difficult operation this morning operation."

Thanks a bunch,

Gui.

In any kind of formal setting, "perform" is used.

But informally, and especially--as in your example--if a surgeon is chatting with his colleagues, "do" is perfectly all right. I did a difficult operation this morning.

[BobK]

You could also use 'carried out'.

b

[2006]

You can also use 'had'.

A pilot can say 'I had a difficult landing this morning.'

A surgeon can say 'I had a difficult operation this morning.'

[Offroad]

what's the difference between procedure and operation?

Thanks

[BobK]

A doctor might have a precise answer, but this layman would say that an operation might involve several procedures.

b

[Searching for language]

A doctor might have a precise answer, but this layman would say that an operation might involve several procedures.

b

I am not a teacher.

A surgeon can say 'I had a difficult operation this morning.'
I think saying had in this instance would not be correct. To me it indicates that the operation was done to the doctor.
I would say "I had a difficult operation to do/perform this morning."

As to the operation vs procedure, I think that a procedure is not always surgery, whereas in medical terms, operation is always surgery.

[2006]

i am not a teacher.

a surgeon can say 'i had a difficult operation this morning.'
i think saying had in this instance would not be correct. To me it indicates that the operation was done to the doctor.
1...theoretically a patient could say 'i had a difficult operation this morning.', but a surgeon is much more likely to say that.
2...you wouldn't think that the landing was done to the pilot.

i would say "i had a difficult operation to do/perform this morning."
when the surgeon or pilot says 'i had a difficult.....', the "to do/perform" part is understood.

2006

[Searching for language]

A pilot can say 'I had a difficult landing this morning.'

This could (but not likely) mean that the pilot was a passenger in another plane and experienced a difficult landing.

If you want to be precise in the landing and who did it, say "I landed my/the plane with difficulty this morning." or "It was difficult for me to land the plane."

[2006]

A pilot can say 'I had a difficult landing this morning.'

This could (but not likely) mean that the pilot was a passenger in another plane and experienced a difficult landing. But that's not the meaning I am talking about.

If you want to be precise in the landing and who did it, say "I landed my/the plane with difficulty this morning." or "It was difficult for me to land the plane."
Those sentences don't sound very natural, and they suggest that the problem was a lack of skill.


'I had a difficult landing this morning.' suggests that factors other than pilot skill made the landing difficult.

The original sentence is 'I ___ a difficult operation this morning.' "had" is very commonly used in that context.

Surgeons also say things like 'I have four operations today.'