Surgery Clerkship Guide

Section 1 Introduction to the Surgical Clerkship 1. Secrets to becoming a successful surgical clerk Day-to-day inpatient skills Day-to-day outpatient skills OR etiquette Communication Patient confidentiality 2. The surgical patient Preoperative assessment Diagnostic imaging of the surgical patient How to order the correct study Abdominal / Pelvic imaging Chest imaging Neuro imaging Vascular imaging Laboratory assessment of the surgical patient Operative management and anesthesia Postoperative assessment and management Pain management Antibiotics in the surgical patient Prophylaxis Bowel preparation Therapeutic antibiotic use Approach to the acutely ill patient 3. How to perform basic procedures Universal precautions How to remove sutures and staples How to place NG tubes How to start IV's / central lines How to place urinary catheters How to place thoracostomy tubes How to change dressings How to manage surgical tubes and drains Section 2 Patients Presenting with a Specific Sign or Symptom 4. Abdominal mass 5. Abdominal pain / distention 6. Acute abdomen 7. Breast mass 8. Change in bowel habits 9. Claudication 10. Cough / hemoptysis 11. Dysphagia 12. Free intraperitoneal air 13. GI bleeding 14. Hypotension and shock 15. Inguinal / scrotal swelling 16. Jaundice 17. Leg pain, ulceration or swelling 18. Lymphadenopathy 19. Mental status changes 20. Nausea and vomiting 21. Neck mass 22. Nipple discharge 23. Postoperative bleeding 24. Postoperative fever 25. Retroperitoneal mass 26. Shortness of breath 27. Urine output changes 28. Wound problems Section 3 Patients Presenting with a Known Surgical Condition 29. Abdominal wall hernias Inguinal Extra-inguinal Incisional 30. Breast disease Benign breast disease Breast cancer Breast reconstruction 31. Pulmonology Bullous disease Lung cancer Pneumonia Pulmonary embolism Reactive airway disease Respiratory failure 32. Endocrinology Adrenal disorders APUDs (carcinoids) Pancreatic disorders Parathyroid disorders Thyroid disorders 33. Gastroenterology Appendicitis Benign anal disease Biliary tract disease Bowel obstruction Diverticular disease Esophageal motility disorders Gastrointestinal cancer Inflammatory bowel disease Liver disease Pancreatic disorders Peptic ulcer disease / duodenal ulcer 34. Hematology Transfusion guidelines DIC Indications for splenectomy 35. Infectious disease Postoperative fever / infections Necrotizing fasciitis Sepsis 36. Nephrology Acid base abnormalities Acute renal failure Electrolyte abnormalities Fluid status assessment and treatment 37. Nutrition Assessment of nutritional status Enteral vs. parenteral nutrition TPN 38. Surgical subspecialties Maxillofacial Neurosurgery Oncology Sarcoma Skin cancer Ophthalmology Orthopedics Pediatric surgery Assessment of the pediatric patient Abdominal disorders Hernias Pulmonary disorders Urologic disorders Plastic surgery Transplantation Urology 39. Trauma Trauma assessment Abdominal injury Thermal injury Chest injury Facial injury Falls Fractures Head and cervical spine injury Urological injury Vascular injury 40. Vascular disease Aortic vascular disease Deep venous thrombosis Carotid vascular disease Peripheral vascular disease Varicose veins Vascular access Chronic venous insufficiency Case Answers Practice Exam Exam Answers Abbreviations, Formulae and Laboratory Test Values