Essential Surgery is a comprehensive and highly illustrated textbook suitable for both clinical medical students as well junior surgical trainees, preparing for postgraduate qualifications in surgery such as the MRCS. Covering general surgery, trauma, orthopaedics, vascular surgery, paediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and urology, it incorporates appropriate levels of basic science throughout. The book is ideal for modern clinical courses as well as being a practical manual for readers at more advanced levels. Its main aim is to stimulate the reader to a greater enjoyment and understanding of the practice of surgery.

• Essential Surgery incorporates a problem-solving approach wherever possible, emphasising how diagnoses are made and why particular treatments are used.
• The pathophysiological basis of surgical diseases is discussed in relation to their management, acting as a bridge between basic medical sciences and clinical problems.
• The uniformity of the writing style and the clarity of elucidation will encourage continued reading, while the emphasis on the principles of surgery will enable a real understanding of the subject matter.
• The book’s extensive use of original illustrations, boxes and tables emphasises important concepts and will aid revision.
• The principles of operative surgery and perioperative care are explained together with outlines of common operations, enabling students and trainee surgeons to properly understand procedures and to participate intelligently in the operating department.

• A major revision of the text has taken full account of the progressive evolution of surgery and includes new concepts that have advanced medical understanding.
• New topics have been added to ensure the book’s contents match the curriculum of the UK Intercollegiate MRCS examination, including patient safety, surgical ethics, communication, consent, clinical audit and principles of research.
• The broad experience of surgical teaching and training of two new authors has brought a fresh perspective on the book’s contents and its presentation.
• New consensus guidelines for managing common disorders have been incorporated where appropriate.

PRINCIPLES OF SURGICAL CARE

Mechanisms of surgical disease and surgery in practice

Managing physiological change in the surgical patient

Immunology, inflammation and infection

Shock and resuscitation

Imaging and interventional techniques in surgery

Screening for adult disease

PERIOPERATIVE CARE

Preoperative assessment

Medical problems

Blood transfusion

Diagnosis and management of common postoperative problems

Principles of operative surgery

Complications of surgery

Principles of cancer management

Principles of transplantation surgery

PRINCIPLES OF ACCIDENT SURGERY

Major injuries

Head and maxillofacial injuries

Soft tissue injuries and burns

SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

Non-acute abdominal pain and other abdominal symptoms and signs

The acute abdomen and acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Gallstone diseases and related disorders

Peptic ulceration and related disorders

Disorders of the oesophagus

Tumours of the stomach and small intestine

Tumours of the pancreas and hepatobiliary system

Pancreatitis

Appendicitis

Colorectal polyps and carcinoma

Chronic inflammatory disorders of the bowel

Disorders of large bowel motility, structure and perfusion.

Anal and perianal disorders

Thoracic surgery

Hernias and other groin problems

Disorders of the male genitalia

Symptoms and signs and investigation of urinary tract disorders

Disorders of the prostate

Tumours of the kidney and urinary tract

Stone disease of the urinary tract

Urinary tract infections

Congenital disorders and diseases secondarily involving the urinary tract

Pathophysiology, clinical features and diagnosis of vascular disease affecting the limbs

Managing lower limb arterial insufficiency, the diabetic foot and major amputations

Aneurysms and other peripheral arterial diseases

Venous disorders of the lower limb

Cardiac surgery

Disorders of the breast

Disorders of the skin

Lumps in the head and neck and salivary calculi

Disorders of the mouth

Disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid glands

Acute surgical problems in children

Non-acute abdominal and urological problems in children