Objectives

At the conclusion of this course each participant will be able to:

• Summarize the basic science fundamentals underlying patient management as applied to general surgery.
• Describe preoperative, operative and postoperative patient care in the principle component areas of general surgery: specifically diseases of the head and neck, breast, skin and soft tissues, alimentary tract, abdomen, vascular system, endocrine system, comprehensive trauma management and emergency operations, and surgical critical care.
• Discuss the principles of and perioperative patient care in the surgical specialties of cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric surgery and transplant surgery.
• Summarize the clinical care of patients with common problems in urology, gynecology, orthopedics, and burns.
• Demonstrate an understanding of tumor staging and describe the appropriate surgical and/or nonsurgical management required.
• Discuss non-operative management options for general surgery patients which may not require surgical intervention (e.g., patients with pancreatitis, portal hypertension, immunosuppression, multiple traumas).
• Outline the appropriate use of newer diagnostic and therapeutic methods such as: laser-based applications; stereotactic breast biopsy; physiologic testing and evaluation of the GI tract; noninvasive vascular system diagnostic evaluation and invasive vascular interventional techniques; ultrasonography of the head and neck, breast and abdomen; and endorectal ultrasound.