Paediatric Surgery PDF

Preface

Textbooks of paediatric surgery tend to full into two main categories. There are those that are very detailed reference texts, often extending to more than one volume, which any specialist paediatric surgeon will wish to consult on a regular basis when dealing with uncommon conditions. Then there are small books designed for students, general practitioners and junior surgeons, usually covering common paediatric surgical conditions. There is a need for a textbook designed for trainees in paediatric surgery in order to provide them with the knowledge required to help them complete their training and to pass specialist examinations such as those in place in the UK, Europe and Australasia. This book is aimed at those trainees and with such examinations in mind.

In Part 1 of this book,we have included topics on basic science that underpin our clinical knowledge and how we implement it. In addition, the clinical chapters include sections of relevant basic science. We have also included topics such as communication skills and the child and the law, which are relevant to all doctors practising paediatrics.

Throughout the clinical sections, we have tried to identify the learning points for each chapter. Reading textbooks is not an easy task, and the text can be dry and lack direction. The learning points should focus the reader's mind on the important questions that they should ask themselves when they have finished reading the chapter. In addition, where relevant, we have included clinical scenarios, with the intention of focusing the reader's mind on how to implement their knowledge in a practical setting.

We have deliberately not included great detail about operative surgery. There are other texts that cover this issue well. We hope that the book will appeal to surgeons in training but also that it may be of interest to both specialist paediatric surgeons and surgeons who practise the general surgery of childhood.

The editors would like to acknowledge the understanding of their families during the gestation of the book and the help of the staff at Hodder Arnold.