Surgeries Commonly Performed in the Supine Position: Comprehensive Specialty Guide

Supine Position Surgical Procedures by Specialty

The supine position (supine: lying horizontally, face up) is the default surgical position for a vast array of procedures across specialties. While standard, modifications (lateral tilt, reverse Trendelenburg, lithotomy) are frequently employed for exposure optimization.

1. Abdominal and General Surgery

Appendectomy (open/laparoscopic)
Cholecystectomy (laparoscopic standard)
Hernia repair (inguinal, ventral, hiatal)
Colectomy / bowel resection
Gastrectomy (partial/total)
Splenectomy
Adrenalectomy
Bariatric procedures (RYGB, sleeve)

2. Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) — median sternotomy
Heart valve replacement/repair — median sternotomy or right anterior thoracotomy
Aortic aneurysm repair (ascending/arch)
Minimally invasive cardiac (mini-sternotomy, port-access)
Thymectomy, lung wedge resection (select cases)

3. Orthopedic Surgery

Total hip arthroplasty (anterior/lateral approach)
Total knee arthroplasty
Anterior cervical spine fusion (ACDF)
ACL reconstruction
Arthroscopic shoulder procedures (rotator cuff, labral repair)
Carpal tunnel release

4. Gynecologic Surgery

Hysterectomy (abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic)
Myomectomy
Ovarian cystectomy, oophorectomy
Tubal ligation
Dilation and curettage (D&C)
Pelvic organ prolapse repair

5. Urologic Surgery

Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP)
Nephrectomy (open/laparoscopic)
Pyeloplasty
Cystoscopy, ureteroscopy (often lithotomy)
Vasectomy

6. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Breast augmentation, reduction, reconstruction
Abdominoplasty
Liposuction
Rhinoplasty
Facelift / brow lift
Skin cancer excision with flap/graft

7. Neurosurgery (Select)

Craniotomy for supratentorial lesions (often modified with head fixation)
Shunt placement/revision

Position modifications, padding, and neuromonitoring are tailored to each procedure's physiologic demands and anatomic targets.