Key Topics in General Surgery PDF

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION

The second edition of Key Topics in General Surgery has been updated to reflect changes in surgical practice that have occurred since the first edition was published in 1996. The format remains largely unchanged but several old topics have been discarded in favour of new, more relevant chapters. The old Fellowship examination has now been abandoned, and we feel that the book is well suited to trainees preparing for the MRCS.

In keeping with the growth of evidence-based practice, we have attempted to indicate the strength of evidence supporting much of the material included. Where a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (the ‘gold standard' of evidence-based medicine) is reported, it is identified with the superscript ‘a' in the text. (Some meta-analyses are considered to be equivalent to a systematic review.) Where work from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or meta-analysis is reported, it is identified with the superscript ‘b' in the text. Other peer reviewed work (reviews, uncontrolled studies or case reports) is identified with the superscript ‘c'. Alternatively, the references may be cited at the end of the chapter. Much of surgical practice is not yet or cannot be supported by high level evidence, and this is apparent by the paucity of references in some areas.

We are grateful to the many surgical trainers and colleagues with whom we have worked and whose practice constitutes much that is contained in this book. We thank Jonathan Ray, Lisa Mansell and Nadine Séveno of BIOS for their help and patience in its preparation, and are grateful to friends and families for their forbearance during its gestation.