Preoperative management - 1

Preoperative management

• Assessment of fitness for anaesthesia and surgery
• Preoperative investigations
• Tests of respiratory, cardiac and renal disease 
• Management of associated medical conditions
• Anaemia
  • Iron deficiency anaemia
  • Sickle cell anaemia

Infection

• Pathophysiology of the body's response to infection
• Sources of surgical infection
• Wound infection
• Asepsis and antisepsis
• Sterilisation and disinfection
• Surgically important micro-organisms
  • Staphylococcal and streptococcal infections
  • Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  • Tuberculosis
  • Tetanus
  • Gas gangrene
  • Pseudomembranous colitis
  • Hydatid disease

Investigative and operative procedures

• Excision of cysts and benign tumours of the skin
• Principles of techniques of biopsy
• Drainage of superficial and deep abscesses
• Cellulitis and necrotising fascitis
• Basic principles of anastomosis
• Surgical drains

Anaesthesia

• Local and regional anaesthesia
• Pre-medication and induction
• General anaesthesia and muscle relaxation
• Care and monitoring of the anaesthetised patient

Theatre problems

• Surgical technique and technology
  • Minimal access surgery
• Diathermy - principles and precautions
• Lasers - principle and precautions
• Tourniquets - uses and precautions
• Prevention of injuries in the anaesthetised patient
• Day case surgery
• Surgery in hepatitis and HIV carriers
  • Hepatitis B
  • HIV infection and AIDS
• Disorders of coagulation and haemostasis