According to the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 41.3 million inpatient surgical procedures were performed in the United States in 1999, followed closely by 31.5 million outpatient surgeries.

Other 1999 surgical statistics for both in- and outpatient procedures include:

• Nervous System Surgeries: 2.2 million
• Eye Surgeries: 5.4 million
• Ear Surgeries: 895,000
• Nose, Mouth, and Pharynx Surgeries: 2.38 million
• Respiratory System Surgeries: 1.45 million
• Cardiovascular System Surgeries: 7 million
• Digestive System Surgeries: 12 million
• Urinary System Surgeries: 2.4 million
• Musculoskeletal System Surgeries: 7.4 million
• Integumentary (Skin) System Surgeries: 3.7 million